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
- 2648 visits
-
Patch 498 Megas Gatas
- 2109 visits
-
Patch 498 older version
- 2162 visits
-
Patch 498th FIS jpg
- 2155 visits
-
Patch 498th Patch Old
- 1401 visits
-
Patch 498th triangle
- 2091 visits
-
Patch 498th triangle 2
- 2197 visits
-
Patch 57th Fighter Group
- 2136 visits
-
Patch Graphic 498th
- 3311 visits
-
498 FIS 572490 Final Crew
- 3660 visits
-
498 FIS Geiger Field Closure 1963
- 3156 visits
, Rating: 4.31
-
498 FIS HQ Geiger Field
- 1993 visits
-
498 FIS HQ Geiger Field
- 2042 visits
-
560461 498FIS Jeff Marken
- 585 visits
-
57 FG and 498 FIS CCs 1967
- 2067 visits
, Rating: 4.31
-
572453 SMALC Fuel Imbalance
- 4533 visits
-
572461 Arrives Geiger Field 1959
- 2979 visits
, Rating: 4.31
-
572462
- 2350 visits
-
572463 572481 572492 Geiger Field
- 2234 visits
-
572464
- 3051 visits
-
572464 and Atlas ICBM
- 1958 visits
-
572478
- 2228 visits
-
572478 Depot PDM MODs
- 6311 visits
-
572478 Depot PDM MODs
- 5735 visits
-
572478 engine
- 3115 visits
-
572478 PDM MODs
- 3948 visits
-
572479 and 498th Pilots
- 2607 visits
, Rating: 4.31
-
572480 498FIS Capt Bill Richardson
- 557 visits
-
572480 Capt Richardson (590017 crash)
- 3002 visits
, Rating: 4.31
-
572481 572478 572482
- 2364 visits
-
572481 572478 572482 498FIS
- 2308 visits
, Rating: 3.47
-
572481 572478 572482 498FIS
- 1482 visits
-
572481 572478 572482 498FIS
- 701 visits
-
572483
- 2138 visits
-
572484 Crash Site
- 2826 visits
-
572484 Crash Site Map
- 2563 visits
, Rating: 4.31
-
572517 Departure Depot PDM MOD
- 1783 visits
-
572520 Article
- 1737 visits
-
590009 498FIS McChord
- 2117 visits
, Rating: 3.89
-
590020 498th Tail Flash
- 1780 visits
-
590022 4-ship
- 2025 visits
, Rating: 3.89
-
590022 590051 and More Operation White Shoes
- 2221 visits
-
590052 Don Fletcher
- 2025 visits
-
590131 498th McChord
- 1957 visits
, Rating: 4.31
-
590138 590053 572509 498th FIS Paine Field 1968
- 393 visits
-
590140 498th McChord
- 2025 visits
, Rating: 4.31
-
590145 7-18-63
- 2078 visits
-
590145 Article 7-18-63
- 1794 visits
-
Flight Suit Capt. Richardson
- 935 visits
, Rating: 4.31
-
Geiger Field 'Geiger Guide' 1961 498th FIS
- 1954 visits
, Rating: 4.31
-
L-2B Jacket
- 1821 visits
, Rating: 2.64
-
LtCol Eugene L Surowiec
- 2522 visits
, Rating: 4.51
-
Richardson Brothers Together 498th FIS 1962
- 569 visits
-
thumb498
- 1191 visits
-
Thumbnail-498
- 1203 visits