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.
  • Patch 318th Maintenance on Field Jacket 0 comments - 2849 visits  Patch 318th Maintenance on Field Jacket
  • Patch 318th Patch 0 comments - 2077 visits , Rating: 3.06  Patch 318th Patch
  • Patch 318th Patch 0 comments - 2519 visits , Rating: 4.32  Patch 318th Patch
  • Patch 318th Patch 0 comments - 3040 visits , Rating: 4.32  Patch 318th Patch
  • Patch 318th Patch Centential 0 comments - 2728 visits  Patch 318th Patch Centential
  • Patch 318th Patch Det1 0 comments - 1181 visits  Patch 318th Patch Det1
  • Patch 318th Patch Shoulder MA-1 1 comment - 2384 visits , Rating: 2.64  Patch 318th Patch Shoulder MA-1
  • Patch 318th Patch Shoulder Maintenance 1 comment - 3011 visits  Patch 318th Patch Shoulder Maintenance
  • Patch 318th Patch Shoulder Maintenance Sub 0 comments - 1978 visits  Patch 318th Patch Shoulder Maintenance Sub
  • Patch 318th Patch Shoulder Maintenance Sub 1 comment - 2999 visits  Patch 318th Patch Shoulder Maintenance Sub
  • Patch 318th Patch Shoulder OPS 0 comments - 2856 visits  Patch 318th Patch Shoulder OPS
  • Patch 318th Patch Shoulder Pilot/Ops 1 comment - 3182 visits  Patch 318th Patch Shoulder Pilot/Ops
  • Patch 318th Patch Sub 0 comments - 2538 visits  Patch 318th Patch Sub
  • Patch 318th Patch Sub Det 1 0 comments - 2809 visits  Patch 318th Patch Sub Det 1
  • Patch 318th Patch T-33 Sub 0 comments - 2570 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 - 2698 visits  Patch Hughes Award 1984 38th FIS
  • Patch Hughes Trophy 1984 318th FIS 0 comments - 632 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 - 2747 visits 2002 560459
  • 2021 560459 Snowy Day Feb 13 0 comments - 853 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 - 458 visits 2023/05 560459 Washed by 62d AW
  • 2023/05 560459 Washed by 62d AW 0 comments - 470 visits 2023/05 560459 Washed by 62d AW
  • 3-ship Landing 0 comments - 1874 visits 3-ship Landing
  • 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-MSgt Black 0 comments - 1243 visits 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-MSgt Black
  • 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 194th Arrives 0 comments - 3547 visits 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 194th Arrives
  • 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 580783 0 comments - 3840 visits 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 580783
  • 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 580783 0 comments - 3269 visits 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 580783
  • 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 590038 580783 0 comments - 3700 visits 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 590038 580783
  • 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 590038 580783 0 comments - 4288 visits 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 590038 580783
  • 318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 590038 580783 0 comments - 4166 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 - 971 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 - 3777 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 - 606 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 - 3470 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 - 680 visits 318 FIS-Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Last Six Alert Day
  • 5-Ship Formation Mt Rainer 0 comments - 2357 visits 5-Ship Formation Mt Rainer
  • 5-Ship Formation Mt Rainer 0 comments - 2279 visits 5-Ship Formation Mt Rainer
  • 560454 0 comments - 2914 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 - 383 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 - 2766 visits , Rating: 4.32 560457 580776 590058 590108 590110
  • 560457 590059 590057 590054 Over Mt Rainier 0 comments - 1967 visits , Rating: 3.63 560457 590059 590057 590054 Over Mt Rainier
  • 560457 590110 2 comments - 3569 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 - 2148 visits 560457 Det-1 Castle 1982
  • 560457 Det-1 Castle 1982 0 comments - 2232 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 - 2041 visits 560457 Det-1 Castle 1982
  • 560457 Genie Shot 0 comments - 4325 visits , Rating: 2.64 560457 Genie Shot
  • 560457 Load Team (0) 9 comments - 6168 visits 560457 Load Team (0)
  • 560457 Load Team (1) 0 comments - 5445 visits , Rating: 4.52 560457 Load Team (1)
  • 560457 Load Team (2) 0 comments - 5011 visits 560457 Load Team (2)
  • 560457 Load Team (3) 18 comments - 6953 visits 560457 Load Team (3)
  • 560457 Load Team (4) 0 comments - 5630 visits 560457 Load Team (4)
  • 560457 Load Team (5) 0 comments - 5391 visits 560457 Load Team (5)
  • 560457 WT82 0 comments - 918 visits 560457 WT82
  • 560457 WT82 0 comments - 1082 visits 560457 WT82
  • 560457 WT82 0 comments - 2594 visits 560457 WT82
  • 560459 0 comments - 2657 visits 560459
  • 560459 0 comments - 2244 visits 560459
  • 560459 0 comments - 456 visits 560459
  • 560459 0 comments - 2223 visits 560459
  • 560459 and 590016 0 comments - 1286 visits 560459 and 590016
  • 560459 Handover Museum 1983 0 comments - 1915 visits 560459 Handover Museum 1983
  • 560459 Painting 0 comments - 2296 visits 560459 Painting
  • 560463 0 comments - 1323 visits 560463