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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Engine Work 318FIS
- 259 visits
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590059 TAC Tail and Kill Markings from Giant Voice 1979
- 264 visits
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590057
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580776 1980
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590058 572465 1980
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560457 560459 AB 2-Ship Takeoff
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, Rating: 4.30
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560459
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2023/05 560459 Washed by 62d AW
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590049
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2023/05 560459 Washed by 62d AW
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318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Last Six Alert Day
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2023/05 560459 Washed by 62d AW
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580776 Centennial Between McChord & Kingsley
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590022 590057
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318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Last Six Alert Day
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Patch Hughes Trophy 1984 318th FIS
- 666 visits
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560466 Old Tail Flash
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318 FIS-Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Last Six Alert Day
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590059 TAC Tail and Kill Markings from Giant Voice 1979
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560463 J75-P-17 Engine
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, Rating: 4.30
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580776 Centennial Between McChord & Kingsley
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590141 with F-15 760141
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Genie Load 318FIS 1970s John Kelly
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590004 Painting Firing AIM-4 by Mark Karvon to Bob Bruce
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FB IMG 1483146579834
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570234 Maintenance
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, Rating: 3.05
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590057 Final Wash
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590004
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2021 560459 Snowy Day Feb 13
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580776 Centennial Between McChord & Kingsley
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, Rating: 4.30
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590004 WT74 Prep
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580776 Centennial at Abbotsford Airshow 1976
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580776 Centennial at Abbotsford Airshow 1976
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590141 Last Flight to AMARC from 318th 4Nov83
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Capt Bruce Miller
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580776 Centennial at Abbotsford Airshow 1976
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Engine 318FIS McChord
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560457 WT82
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590059 Old Tail Flash
- 1026 visits
, Rating: 4.30
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Hush House 318 FIS
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590059
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318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Larry Mogavero Dec 1983
- 1040 visits
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318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-SSgt Mike Nieves Instruments
- 1051 visits
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- 1079 visits
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318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Larry Mogavero and Patrick McGee Dec1983
- 1105 visits
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590143 590147 Old Tailflash
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560457 WT82
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590057
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590152 Old Tail Flash
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590057
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Sign at McChord 1983
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WT82 318 FIS Maint Area
- 1225 visits
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Pair of Sixes Taking Off - Old Tails
- 1250 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maintenance
- 1250 visits
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Patch 318th Patch Det1
- 1265 visits
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590152
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Eielson AFB 318th FIS F-106
- 1274 visits
, Rating: 4.30
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590148
- 1281 visits
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WT81 318 FIS
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Inactivation Ceremony 7 Dec 1989
- 1296 visits
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560466
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318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-MSgt Black
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WT82 318 FIS Maintenance
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590141 580776 WT74
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WT82
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590058 572465 590063 Tyndall TA 1980
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590152
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WT82 318 FIS Pilot and CC
- 1331 visits
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590147 WT74
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560466
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Dragon Master Card Jim May
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Alert Barn McChord
- 1355 visits
, Rating: 3.05
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560459 and 590016
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560463
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590057 Engine Removal
- 1367 visits