The mustachioed Dastardly and the snickering pooch Muttley flew all types of biplanes in an effort to stop the American carrier pigeon, Yankee Doodle, from crossing enemy lines. Aiding Dastardly and Muttley (and just as often getting in their way) were 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, members of the Vulture Squadron, was inspired by the German aviators of the first World War.

Not to be outshone by his human counterpart, Muttley had his own two-and-a-half-minute segment called "The Magnificent Muttleys", in which he fantasized in a Walter Mitty-type fashion about being the hero of the war.

Also notable was the show's theme song, “Stop That Pigeon,” which repeated those three words over and over, until they must have been in the heads of every viewer. Many people grew up thinking that the song’s title was actually the name of the show.