| Captain Bill Bainbridge | |
|---|---|
 Captain Bill Bainbridge as played by Richard Paul in "Letters" (Season 9) | |
| M*A*S*H character | |
| Vital information | |
| Rank: | Captain (O-3) |
| Job/Role in Unit: | Lawyer mistakenly assigned to the 4077th MASH |
| Home: | Not Mentioned |
| Hair Color: | Sandy Brown |
| Eye Color: | cannot be seen |
| Height: | 5' 11" |
| Weight: | 200 lbs |
| Family/Personal Information | |
| Born: | ???? |
| Birthplace: | ???? |
| Nationality/Race: | American/Caucasian |
| Spouse(s): | ???? |
| Relatives/Children: | Not mentioned |
| Appearances | |
| First appeared in: | ""Letters" (Season 9) |
| Last appeared in: | N.A. Single appearance |
| Appeared on/or in: | M*A*S*H |
| Played by: | Richard Paul |
'Captain Bill Bainbridge' was a US Army lawyer who made a single appearance in the Season 9 episode of M*A*S*H titled "Letters". The part of Bainbridge was played by actor Richard Paul.
About Bainbridge
Klinger had asked for someone to replace Winchester while he is away at a seminar in Tokyo so everyone is delighted when Bainbridge arrives at the MASH. Hawkeye and B.J. can't believe the Army would actually consider the request and grant it so they greet Bainbridge warmly. Bainbridge hits it off with them because of his friendly nature but as their conversation progresses, Bainbridge begins to say very strange things. When Hawkeye says things could get busy in the night, Bainbridge replies that he makes it a policy to keep regular office hours. Hawkeye emphasises that they get wounded arriving round the clock but Bainbridge responds that "it's not as though they'd die if they don't see me before morning." Suspecting that something is wrong, Hawkeye asks Bainbridge what line of work he is in. Bainbridge replies: "Same as you. I'm a lawyer."
Stunned by the massive foul up, the two doctors are determined to try Bainbridge out nonetheless, and give him some practice stitching up a wound. Margaret protests that it is very unprofessional but the two doctors tell her it is "practicing medicine", Bainbridge is only at the 4077th "on a trial basis" and the patient is "closed".