The 318th vs. 498th Compass Rose “Northstar” Tail Flash Saga [by Ernie White (Edit 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. Further compelling evidence can be seen on F-106 photo's in this gallery of 590009, 590131 and 590140, all of which served ONLY with the 498th Gieger Tigers at McChord, but all sporting the Compass Rose and 590009 and 590131 also sporting the 325th FW shield on the tails.
  • Patch 498 FIS Geiger Tiger Patch 0 comments - 2615 visits  Patch 498 FIS Geiger Tiger Patch
  • Patch 498 Megas Gatas 0 comments - 2074 visits  Patch 498 Megas Gatas
  • Patch 498 older version 0 comments - 2126 visits  Patch 498 older version
  • Patch 498th FIS jpg 0 comments - 2121 visits  Patch 498th FIS jpg
  • Patch 498th Patch Old 0 comments - 1379 visits  Patch 498th Patch Old
  • Patch 498th triangle 0 comments - 2061 visits  Patch 498th triangle
  • Patch 498th triangle 2 0 comments - 2164 visits  Patch 498th triangle 2
  • Patch 57th Fighter Group 0 comments - 2102 visits  Patch 57th Fighter Group
  • Patch Graphic 498th 0 comments - 3264 visits  Patch Graphic 498th
  • 498 FIS 572490 Final Crew 2 comments - 3646 visits 498 FIS 572490 Final Crew
  • 498 FIS Geiger Field Closure 1963 0 comments - 3131 visits , Rating: 4.32 498 FIS Geiger Field Closure 1963
  • 498 FIS HQ Geiger Field 0 comments - 1982 visits 498 FIS HQ Geiger Field
  • 498 FIS HQ Geiger Field 0 comments - 2027 visits 498 FIS HQ Geiger Field
  • 560461 498FIS Jeff Marken 0 comments - 577 visits 560461 498FIS Jeff Marken
  • 57 FG and 498 FIS CCs 1967 0 comments - 2050 visits , Rating: 4.32 57 FG and 498 FIS CCs 1967
  • 572453 SMALC Fuel Imbalance 0 comments - 4474 visits 572453 SMALC Fuel Imbalance
  • 572461 Arrives Geiger Field 1959 0 comments - 2915 visits , Rating: 4.32 572461 Arrives Geiger Field 1959
  • 572462 0 comments - 2323 visits 572462
  • 572463 572481 572492 Geiger Field 0 comments - 2209 visits 572463 572481 572492 Geiger Field
  • 572464 0 comments - 2985 visits 572464
  • 572464 and Atlas ICBM 0 comments - 1940 visits 572464 and Atlas ICBM
  • 572478 0 comments - 2200 visits 572478
  • 572478 Depot PDM MODs 0 comments - 6285 visits 572478 Depot PDM MODs
  • 572478 Depot PDM MODs 0 comments - 5656 visits 572478 Depot PDM MODs
  • 572478 engine 0 comments - 3065 visits 572478 engine
  • 572478 PDM MODs 0 comments - 3924 visits 572478 PDM MODs
  • 572479 and 498th Pilots 0 comments - 2579 visits , Rating: 4.32 572479 and 498th Pilots
  • 572480 498FIS Capt Bill Richardson 0 comments - 544 visits 572480 498FIS Capt Bill Richardson
  • 572480 Capt Richardson (590017 crash) 0 comments - 2959 visits , Rating: 4.32 572480 Capt Richardson (590017 crash)
  • 572481 572478 572482 0 comments - 2348 visits 572481 572478 572482
  • 572481 572478 572482 498FIS 0 comments - 2287 visits , Rating: 3.48 572481 572478 572482 498FIS
  • 572481 572478 572482 498FIS 0 comments - 1469 visits 572481 572478 572482 498FIS
  • 572481 572478 572482 498FIS 0 comments - 689 visits 572481 572478 572482 498FIS
  • 572483 0 comments - 2121 visits 572483
  • 572484 Crash Site 0 comments - 2799 visits 572484 Crash Site
  • 572484 Crash Site Map 0 comments - 2534 visits , Rating: 4.32 572484 Crash Site Map
  • 572517 Departure Depot PDM MOD 0 comments - 1771 visits 572517 Departure Depot PDM MOD
  • 572520 Article 0 comments - 1709 visits 572520 Article
  • 590009 498FIS McChord 0 comments - 2097 visits , Rating: 3.90 590009 498FIS McChord
  • 590020 498th Tail Flash 0 comments - 1763 visits 590020 498th Tail Flash
  • 590022 4-ship 0 comments - 2008 visits , Rating: 3.90 590022 4-ship
  • 590022 590051 and More Operation White Shoes 0 comments - 2197 visits 590022 590051 and More Operation White Shoes
  • 590052 Don Fletcher 0 comments - 1996 visits 590052 Don Fletcher
  • 590131 498th McChord 0 comments - 1938 visits , Rating: 4.32 590131 498th McChord
  • 590138 590053 572509 498th FIS Paine Field 1968 0 comments - 378 visits 590138 590053 572509 498th FIS Paine Field 1968
  • 590140 498th McChord 9 comments - 2001 visits , Rating: 4.32 590140 498th McChord
  • 590145 7-18-63 0 comments - 2046 visits 590145 7-18-63
  • 590145 Article 7-18-63 0 comments - 1778 visits 590145 Article 7-18-63
  • Flight Suit Capt. Richardson 0 comments - 921 visits , Rating: 4.32 Flight Suit Capt. Richardson
  • Geiger Field 'Geiger Guide' 1961 498th FIS 0 comments - 1928 visits , Rating: 4.32 Geiger Field 'Geiger Guide' 1961 498th FIS
  • L-2B Jacket 0 comments - 1806 visits , Rating: 2.65 L-2B Jacket
  • LtCol Eugene L Surowiec 0 comments - 2481 visits , Rating: 4.52 LtCol Eugene L Surowiec
  • Richardson Brothers Together 498th FIS 1962 0 comments - 550 visits Richardson Brothers Together 498th FIS 1962
  • thumb498 0 comments - 1183 visits thumb498
  • Thumbnail-498 0 comments - 1190 visits Thumbnail-498