Dastardly & Muttley In Their Flying Machines

1 9 6 9 (USA)
17 x 30 minute episodes

This Wacky Races spin-off from Hanna-Barbera was set in World War I. Dick Dastardly, his dog Muttley, and the rest of the Vulture Squadron are bent on capturing Yankee Doodle Pigeon to prevent him from delivering his messages to the enemies.

Aboard their many crazy biplane aircraft, Dastardly and Muttley devise nefarious plans to stop the American pigeon.

Their motivation is the possibility of earning a medal or maybe even a 30-day furlough. The only problem is, that crafty pigeon always seems to be one step ahead.

Aiding Dastardly and Muttley (and just as often getting in their way) are the two inept Vulture Squadron mechanics, Klunk and Zilly.

Although it was never made clear exactly what enemy country Dastardly was protecting, it is entirely possible that the bad-guy duo were inspired by the German aviators of the first World War.

Muttley had his own two-and-a-half-minute segment in which he fantasised in a Walter Mitty-type fashion about being the hero of the war.

Also notable was the show’s theme song, “Stop The Pigeon” which repeated those three words over and over and over and over . . . To the point where many people grew up thinking the song’s title was actually the name of the show.