Seriestart. Verdenskrigen raser, og kaptajn John Yossarian er en af dem, der udfører livsfarlige bombetogter over Italien. Missionerne bliver stadig hyppigere pga. den ærgerrige oberst Cathcart. Yossarian har fået nok, men bliver belært af lægen Doc.

Yossarian forsøger at slippe for flere missioner ved at melde sig syg, men søster Duckett aner uråd. Milo brygger på planer om at tjene en skilling på krigen. Yossarian og Nately får orlov og tager til romantiske Rom. Clevingers plan smuldrer.

Yossarian needlessly expends energy to avoid a feared mission; disaster catches up with him, when he least expects it.

On a surreal trip, Yossarian begins to realize the magnitude and influence of Milo’s business empire.

Reeling from one violent tragedy, Yossarian encounters incomprehensible darkness in Rome, and is faced with an impossible choice.

Alive and intact, Yossarian is thwarted by an old adversary. Confronted by a devastating loss, he undergoes a transformation.