...the episode name or number where one of the officers gets to go home but thier plane gets shotdown? Thanks

You're referring to "Abyssinia, Henry" the final epsiode of season three.
Henry Blake gets his orders to finally go home, but meets with a tragic end when his plane is shot down. It was the final episode to feature McLean Stevenson as Henry, and the last episode with Trapper John (Wayne Rogers) as well.

from what I've heard though, they didn't find out until after the season was over that Wayne Rogers was planning to leave, though. That's partly why Trapper never had a final episode.

Originally posted by treky
from what I've heard though, they didn't find out until after the season was over that Wayne Rogers was planning to leave, though. That's partly why Trapper never had a final episode.

Yes, during the summer haitus, Wayne Rogers decided to leave the series.

There was a final epsiode of Trapper but we never get to see him.... it's an omission of his character... The opening episode of Season Four Radar lets Hawkeye know after he's come back from his much-needed R&R

yes, but some people (like me) don't count that as his final episode.

Yeah! And that makes me sad....Trap was too cool to be simply "omitted..." And he was supposed to be just as big a character in the movie and all!