71st FIS

Selfridge AFB, MI, Malmstrom AFB, MT
& Richards-Gebaur AFB, MO

Alumni Database

57 F-106s were assigned to 71st FIS at its three locations of Selfridge AFB MI (17 Oct 60 - 15 Jan 67), Richards-Gebaur AFB MO (15 Jan 67 - 01 Jul 68) and Malmstrom AFB MT (01 Jul 68 - 01 Jul 71).

 58-0787 landed Pilot-less in a field in Montana.  58-0787 landed in a field in Montana after the pilot had ejected. The tail markings belonged to the 71st FIS out of Malmstrom AFB at the time of the landing, however the 71st FIS was later changed to the 319th FIS, Malmstrom.  Retired Colonel Wolford (Major) was the Chief of Maintenance at the 71st FIS and his name was stenciled on 58-0787 as the pilot; however, Major Wolford wasn't flying the bird at the time of the incident.

Three F-106s were on a ACM (Air Combat Maneuvers) that day when 58-0787 went into a flat spin and according to procedures, Captain Gary Foust bailed out at 15K feet. One of the accompanying F-106 pilots, IP Major Jimmy Lowe, observed the ejection and also observed 58-0787 straighten out right after ejection and reportedly transmitted "Gary - you'd better get back in it!".  Major Wolford got a call from the sheriff about an airplane sitting in a field with the engine running and wanted to know how to shut it off. The sheriff was advised to just let it run out of fuel. The plane was resting gear up, engine running, on a small amount of snow, with a slight downhill grade and as the snow melted under the aircraft, it would creep forward some, which had the sheriff rather excited.  A depot team from Sacramento Logistics Center, McClellan AFB came in, took the wings off, put everything on a railroad flatcar (a railroad set of tracks was conveniently located about a mile from the landing site), and shipped it to McClellan AFB, CA where it was repaired. Colonel Wolford said he'd like to have flown it out of there but after the aircraft was lifted up, the under side damage was greater than thought.  The Stable Table had exited the bottom through the 05 panel area and crunched its way back to the rear of the plane ruining the armament bay doors.  The wings were in perfect shape. This is an accurate story from the guy who were there, and verfied by Col Wolford. Thanks to Erv Smalley for sending me this info.

58-0787 Article from the Mohawk Flyer, 10 March 1978 - submitted by Bill Chapman, 15 Oct 00

Deployed to Osan AB, Republic of Korea, January 1969.  Support following the Pueblo incident.
Submitted by Frank Dutcher, 25 Oct 2000

Series submitted by Phil Halpin 17 Jul 2001

Submitted by Wally Tennyson and his father

58-0788 and the Spad

Wings of Fame, Vol 12 describes these photos: "To commemorate the feats of Eddie Rickenbacker 50 years before, a Spad XIII was displayed at Andrews AFB with 71st FIS F-106A (s/n 58-0767) in 1968.  The dart wears a William Tell special color scheme and the pilots wear the flying gear of their respective periods."  This however, is not the whole story.  Read on to what the man in the photo has to say about it!

58-0788, The Spad, and the Man in the Photo - Part 1; Roy Morris, received 25 Jul 2000
"Regarding the photo, I know beyond a doubt it was made in early 1965 at what was then SAFB.  The anniversary of the 94th was in 1967, also held at Selfridge.  Just before or shortly after that event, the Spad was moved next to one of the 94th's Darts.  I have another photo of the Spad taken on that day, as well as a photo of Eddie Rickenbacker that I had taken in our briefing room.

I remember that the composite photo appeared in at least two issues of "Assignment Selfridge", a book which was an introduction to Selfridge and environs. (Once on the cover, again inside as a half page and possibly a third time as a small photo.)  As I originally had said, my roommate, Joe Otlewski, had a new issue of "Assignment Selfridge".  He thought it was a picture of me and someone else with the Spad and the Dart.  I didn't originally think it was since I had never had a picture taken near any of the 106s.  Joe insisted it was me, though, and called the base photo lab to find out where and when the photo was taken.  Joe was told that it was a composite photo and confirmed that it was me in the pressure suit.

Shortly thereafter, Squadron Operations was called by someone from the Pentagon wanting to know the names of the airmen and the photographer, as the photo was going to be made an official Air Force photograph.  I was then sent a poster-sized copy.

Some years after moving to California and joining the California Air National Guard, I loaned the photo to the civilian cafeteria at Ontario ANG Base.  I left the guard just prior to their move to March AFB, and had forgotten about my picture until I visited the Selfridge ANG Base Museum while on vacation in the mid ‘80's, at which time I took a photograph of their original.  Since then, I have been in search of another copy to have as my own again. - Roy Morris"

58-0788, The Spad, and The Man in the Photo - Part 2; Roy Morris, received 08 Nov 2000
"I am back with what I feel is the unequivocal answer to the photo of me with the Spad and The F-106.  A few months back I was in Michigan and went to Selfridge Air National Base Museum.  I meet with Executive Director Lt Col Louis Nigro, after calling to see if he knew anything about this photograph. He invited me to come to the base and see if the picture was still on display.  He informed me that the museum was in the process of moving into a different building and that he was unsure of the pictures location. He invited me to come and see if I could find it on display.  (Even though the museum was not open to the public during the week, he said that he would let me look around).  I didn't see the picture in any of the displays and went back to his office to thank him for allowing me to look for it.  When I told him that I did not find it he told me that he did remember seeing it, however many items were still packed from the move. He said that he would ask the others on his staff if they knew its' whereabouts and that I leave a phone number and that he would contact me when it was located.  Well, last month I got a call from Col Nigro.  He told me that they had found the picture.  I ask if he could have a copy made and he ask for my address and would send it out right away.  Three days later a mailing tube arrived at my office from the Col.  When I took the picture out I almost fell over.  He had sent me the original that had been on display, not a copy.  I call him to thank him and let him know that I would return it as soon as I could find some place that could make that size of copies.  He told me that the print was for me because they no longer had room for it.  The picture had suffered some minor water damage.  But is generally in good condition, considering that it is thirty five years old.

Now for what is known about this photograph.  The title printed at the bottom left, is "THE SPAD AND THE DELTA DART".  The photographer was A1C David Jones.  A small 84 is under his name in the lower right corner.  The tail number for the F-106 is 80788. On the back side is hand written "1965 William Tell F106 of 71FISQ Restored Spad VII.

I have sent email to WINGS OF FAME asking for any information that they may have regarding the photo and caption in there book.  I have not received a response from them as of yet. Regards - Roy"