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.
  • *Osan Korea 1968 318 FIS 34 photos *Osan Korea 1968 318 FIS
  • 560464 Crash
    1964 Capt Huss
    51 photos
    560464 Crash1964 Capt Huss
  • 590144 Crash
    1978 Capt Miller
    14 photos
    590144 Crash1978 Capt Miller
  • Patch 318th Maintenance on Field Jacket 0 comments - 2849 visits  Patch 318th Maintenance on Field Jacket
  • Patch 318th Patch 0 comments - 2079 visits , Rating: 3.06  Patch 318th Patch
  • Patch 318th Patch 0 comments - 2520 visits , Rating: 4.32  Patch 318th Patch
  • Patch 318th Patch 0 comments - 3041 visits , Rating: 4.32  Patch 318th Patch
  • Patch 318th Patch Centential 0 comments - 2729 visits  Patch 318th Patch Centential
  • Patch 318th Patch Det1 0 comments - 1182 visits  Patch 318th Patch Det1
  • Patch 318th Patch Shoulder MA-1 1 comment - 2385 visits , Rating: 2.64  Patch 318th Patch Shoulder MA-1
  • Patch 318th Patch Shoulder Maintenance 1 comment - 3012 visits  Patch 318th Patch Shoulder Maintenance
  • Patch 318th Patch Shoulder Maintenance Sub 0 comments - 1979 visits  Patch 318th Patch Shoulder Maintenance Sub
  • Patch 318th Patch Shoulder Maintenance Sub 1 comment - 3001 visits  Patch 318th Patch Shoulder Maintenance Sub
  • Patch 318th Patch Shoulder OPS 0 comments - 2857 visits  Patch 318th Patch Shoulder OPS
  • Patch 318th Patch Shoulder Pilot/Ops 1 comment - 3183 visits  Patch 318th Patch Shoulder Pilot/Ops
  • Patch 318th Patch Sub 0 comments - 2539 visits  Patch 318th Patch Sub
  • Patch 318th Patch Sub Det 1 0 comments - 2811 visits  Patch 318th Patch Sub Det 1
  • Patch 318th Patch T-33 Sub 0 comments - 2571 visits  Patch 318th Patch T-33 Sub
  • Patch Graphic 318th 0 comments - 2755 visits  Patch Graphic 318th
  • Patch Hughes Award 1975 318th FIS 0 comments - 2295 visits  Patch Hughes Award 1975 318th FIS
  • Patch Hughes Award 1984 38th FIS 0 comments - 2699 visits  Patch Hughes Award 1984 38th FIS
  • Patch Hughes Trophy 1984 318th FIS 0 comments - 633 visits  Patch Hughes Trophy 1984 318th FIS
  • Scarf 318th Pilot T-33 0 comments - 1678 visits  Scarf 318th Pilot T-33
  • 2002 560459 0 comments - 2750 visits 2002 560459
  • 2021 560459 Snowy Day Feb 13 0 comments - 854 visits 2021 560459 Snowy Day Feb 13
  • 2023/05 560459 Washed by 62d AW 0 comments - 449 visits 2023/05 560459 Washed by 62d AW
  • 2023/05 560459 Washed by 62d AW 0 comments - 460 visits 2023/05 560459 Washed by 62d AW
  • 2023/05 560459 Washed by 62d AW 0 comments - 472 visits 2023/05 560459 Washed by 62d AW
  • 3-ship Landing 0 comments - 1877 visits 3-ship Landing
  • 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-MSgt Black 0 comments - 1246 visits 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-MSgt Black
  • 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 194th Arrives 0 comments - 3548 visits 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 194th Arrives
  • 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 580783 0 comments - 3841 visits 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 580783
  • 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 580783 0 comments - 3270 visits 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 580783
  • 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 590038 580783 0 comments - 3704 visits 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 590038 580783
  • 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 590038 580783 0 comments - 4289 visits 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 590038 580783
  • 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 590038 580783 0 comments - 4167 visits 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 590038 580783
  • 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Larry Mogavero and Patrick McGee Dec1983 0 comments - 1041 visits 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Larry Mogavero and Patrick McGee Dec1983
  • 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Larry Mogavero Dec 1983 0 comments - 972 visits 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Larry Mogavero Dec 1983
  • 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Last Flight Out 580774 0 comments - 3778 visits , Rating: 3.34 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Last Flight Out 580774
  • 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Last Six Alert Day 0 comments - 607 visits 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Last Six Alert Day
  • 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Last Six Alert Day 0 comments - 489 visits 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Last Six Alert Day
  • 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Last Take-Off 580774 580783 0 comments - 3472 visits 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Last Take-Off 580774 580783
  • 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-SSgt Mike Nieves Instruments 0 comments - 982 visits 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-SSgt Mike Nieves Instruments
  • 318 FIS-Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Last Six Alert Day 0 comments - 682 visits 318 FIS-Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Last Six Alert Day
  • 5-Ship Formation Mt Rainer 0 comments - 2358 visits 5-Ship Formation Mt Rainer
  • 5-Ship Formation Mt Rainer 0 comments - 2280 visits 5-Ship Formation Mt Rainer
  • 560454 0 comments - 2916 visits , Rating: 4.32 560454
  • 560457 9 comments - 3145 visits 560457
  • 560457 0 comments - 2169 visits 560457
  • 560457 0 comments - 2385 visits 560457
  • 560457 560459 AB 2-Ship Takeoff 0 comments - 385 visits , Rating: 4.32 560457 560459 AB 2-Ship Takeoff
  • 560457 570234 590110 0 comments - 1544 visits 560457 570234 590110
  • 560457 580776 590058 590108 590110 9 comments - 3075 visits , Rating: 4.52 560457 580776 590058 590108 590110
  • 560457 580776 590058 590108 590110 0 comments - 2767 visits , Rating: 4.32 560457 580776 590058 590108 590110
  • 560457 590059 590057 590054 Over Mt Rainier 0 comments - 1971 visits , Rating: 3.63 560457 590059 590057 590054 Over Mt Rainier
  • 560457 590110 2 comments - 3570 visits , Rating: 4.32 560457 590110
  • 560457 590110 0 comments - 2453 visits , Rating: 4.32 560457 590110
  • 560457 590143 0 comments - 2098 visits , Rating: 4.32 560457 590143
  • 560457 67-70 Tail Flash 0 comments - 2510 visits 560457 67-70 Tail Flash
  • 560457 Det-1 Castle 1982 0 comments - 2430 visits 560457 Det-1 Castle 1982
  • 560457 Det-1 Castle 1982 0 comments - 2251 visits 560457 Det-1 Castle 1982
  • 560457 Det-1 Castle 1982 0 comments - 2150 visits 560457 Det-1 Castle 1982
  • 560457 Det-1 Castle 1982 0 comments - 2233 visits 560457 Det-1 Castle 1982
  • 560457 Det-1 Castle 1982 0 comments - 2333 visits 560457 Det-1 Castle 1982
  • 560457 Det-1 Castle 1982 0 comments - 2042 visits 560457 Det-1 Castle 1982
  • 560457 Genie Shot 0 comments - 4330 visits , Rating: 2.64 560457 Genie Shot
  • 560457 Load Team (0) 9 comments - 6176 visits 560457 Load Team (0)
  • 560457 Load Team (1) 0 comments - 5451 visits , Rating: 4.52 560457 Load Team (1)
  • 560457 Load Team (2) 0 comments - 5018 visits 560457 Load Team (2)
  • 560457 Load Team (3) 18 comments - 6964 visits 560457 Load Team (3)
  • 560457 Load Team (4) 0 comments - 5643 visits 560457 Load Team (4)
  • 560457 Load Team (5) 0 comments - 5399 visits 560457 Load Team (5)
  • 560457 WT82 0 comments - 918 visits 560457 WT82
  • 560457 WT82 0 comments - 1083 visits 560457 WT82
  • 560457 WT82 0 comments - 2595 visits 560457 WT82
  • 560459 0 comments - 2657 visits 560459
  • 560459 0 comments - 2248 visits 560459
  • 560459 0 comments - 457 visits 560459
  • 560459 0 comments - 2226 visits 560459
  • 560459 and 590016 0 comments - 1288 visits 560459 and 590016
  • 560459 Handover Museum 1983 0 comments - 1916 visits 560459 Handover Museum 1983
  • 560459 Painting 0 comments - 2297 visits 560459 Painting
  • 560463 0 comments - 1324 visits 560463