The 318th vs. 498th Compass Rose “Northstar” Tail Flash Saga [by Ernie White (Updated by Pat McGee)]
There has been a lot of talk over the years about the 318th FIS Compass Rose aka Northstar tail flash and whether it was ever also on 498th jets after moving to McChord. Initially many believed that during the time the 498th was co-located with the 318th FIS at McChord they had no tail flash. As such, any F-106 found with either an early version or later version of the 318th style tail flash, was in fact a 318th jet. This does not seem to be the case. During the transition from Geiger Field to McChord AFB, the 498th swapped out their "1957" model F-106 jets with the 456th FIS, gaining a majority of "1959" models. This was accomplished to ensure the 325th FW, the host wing at McChord AFB, had a more common fleet to assist in maintenance, training, and etc. After things "settled" down following the move, the fleet was, once again, (slightly) reshuffled with the 318th and 498th, swapping tails [aircraft] between the squadrons with a majority of the ex 456 FIS fleet being assigned to the 498 FIS. With this transition, some of the jets with the 318th Compass Rose tail flash ended up serving with the 498th, and some of the "new" Sixes served with the 318th. I would consider the tail flash one that was approved for both F-106 units as a Wing tail flash, although haven't seen the design used for the 325th’s T-33's. During this time, the 325 FW ‘shield’ was applied to the left side of the aircraft (replacing the 318ths Green Dragon emblem on their jets). I would consider this another indication that the Compass Rose was truly a Wing tail flash during this era. From what I understand, no squadron insignias were applied to any McChord jets, except for the Sixes from the 318th that participated in William Tell. They were the only F-106's that wore squadron emblems during that period.
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*Osan Korea 1968 318 FIS
34 photos
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560464 Crash
1964 Capt Huss
51 photos
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590144 Crash
1978 Capt Miller
14 photos
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WT82 Blivit Firing 318 FIS -4
- 2226 visits
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WT82 Blivit Firing 318 FIS -3
- 2407 visits
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WT82 Blivit Firing 318 FIS -2
- 2420 visits
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WT82 Blivit Firing 318 FIS -1
- 2388 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Pilot and CC
- 1328 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maintenance
- 1819 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maintenance
- 1525 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maintenance
- 1587 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maintenance
- 1245 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maintenance
- 1294 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maintenance
- 1720 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maint Area
- 1445 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maint Area
- 1462 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maint Area
- 1217 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maint Area
- 1365 visits
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WT82
- 1303 visits
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WT81 318 FIS Weapons Load
- 2509 visits
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WT81 318 FIS
- 1276 visits
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WT72 318 FIS Load Practice
- 1499 visits
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WT63 318FIS
- 1639 visits
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WT63 318FIS
- 1902 visits
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Wpns Load Comp 318th NORAD 1978
- 4625 visits
, Rating: 2.22
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Wpns Load Comp 318th NORAD 1978
- 3697 visits
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Wpns Load Comp 318th NORAD 1978
- 3719 visits
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Welcome Brochure 1964
- 1363 visits
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Weapons Load Comp 318th 1972 590151 (4)
- 3912 visits
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Weapons Load Comp 318th 1972 (3)
- 4000 visits
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Weapons Load Comp 318th 1972 (2)
- 3933 visits
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Weapons Load Comp 318th 1972 (1)
- 3877 visits
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Thumbnail-318
- 1073 visits
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thumb318
- 698 visits
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T-33
- 1672 visits
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Squadron Sign
- 1410 visits
, Rating: 3.33
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Six Shooter and Osan Korea Footage
- 2470530 visits
, Rating: 4.31
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Sign at McChord 1983
- 1212 visits
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Row of 318th T-33s
- 1677 visits
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Row of 318th Sixes
- 1620 visits
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Pair of Sixes Taking Off - Old Tails
- 1244 visits
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Over Mt Rainier
- 1962 visits
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Osan Korea 318th
- 6433 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7207 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7241 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7406 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 8941 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7004 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7031 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7080 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7625 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7087 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 8938 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 6857 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7541 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7847 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 6476 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7270 visits
, Rating: 3.47
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7268 visits
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Maj Peterson's Crash by Don Ward
- 1855 visits
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J75 Turbojet Engine and Crate
- 2003 visits
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J75 Turbojet Engine
- 2619 visits
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J75 Turbojet Engine
- 2598 visits
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J75 Turbojet Engine
- 2599 visits
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J75 Turbojet Engine
- 2684 visits
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J75 Turbojet Engine
- 2994 visits
, Rating: 2.64
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J75 Turbojet Engine
- 3220 visits
, Rating: 2.64
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Inactivation Ceremony 7 Dec 1989
- 1290 visits
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Hush House 318 FIS
- 1026 visits
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Genie Load 318FIS 1970s John Kelly
- 854 visits
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Gene Johnson T-33
- 2044 visits
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Gene Johnson T-33
- 2122 visits
, Rating: 4.31
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folder-icon
- 765 visits
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Fog on the Flight Line
- 1502 visits
, Rating: 4.31
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Flight Line of 318th Sixes
- 2276 visits
, Rating: 4.31
![Flight Line of 318th Sixes](_data/i/upload/2011/11/14/20111114161812-f4a5f15e-cu_s9999x225.jpg "Flight Line of 318th Sixes (2276 visits, rating score 4.31)
318th FIS Flightline, McChord AFB. Wa.-"Echo" ramp.all a/c assigned.circa 1975 . photo ...")
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Flight Line
- 2091 visits
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FB IMG 1483146579834
- 874 visits
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F-106A WT82
- 1554 visits
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F-106A WT82
- 1510 visits
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Engine Work 318FIS
- 254 visits
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Engine Shop 318th FIS
- 1538 visits
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Engine Bay 318th F-106
- 2252 visits
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Engine 318FIS McChord
- 969 visits
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