December of 1941, a time of much uncertainty to many Southern Californians as Pearl harbor had been attacked just a few months earlier serves as a background for several story threads involving an array of truly weird characters.
General Stillwell, in charge of the defense of the West Coast has tanks placed in downtown Los Angeles and anti-aircraft guns installed on the roofs of buildings can't seem to get anyone to listen to him when he says to keep calm; Wild Bill Kelso, a nutsy fighter pilot following what he thinks is a squadron of Japanese fighters along the California coast;
a well-meaning but clumsy tank crew led by straight-arrow, by-the-book Sgt. Tree, who doesn't recognize the thug in his command; homeowner and patriotic citizen Ward Douglas, eager to do his part for the nation's defense, and, despite the misgivings of his wife, doesn't mind his front yard overlooking the ocean being chosen to house a 40mm anti-aircraft gun; a pair of grotesquely inept airplane spotters who are doing their job from atop a ferris wheel at a beachfront amusement park; a paranoid army colonel positive that the Japanese are infiltrating from the hills; and a big dance being held on behalf of servicemen, being attended by a lusty young woman of size eager to land a man in uniform.
Not to forget a real Japanese submarine off the California coast under the command of its ambitious captain who refuses to turn around until he has attacked a militarily significant, honorable target - the only one that anyone aboard ship knows of in California is Hollywood. By New Year's Eve, all of these characters are going to cross paths – and desaster is complete.