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
-
560464 Crash
1964 Capt Huss
51 photos
-
590144 Crash
1978 Capt Miller
14 photos
-
Engine Work 318FIS
- 252 visits
-
590059 TAC Tail and Kill Markings from Giant Voice 1979
- 256 visits
-
590057
- 296 visits
-
590058 572465 1980
- 361 visits
-
580776 1980
- 365 visits
-
560457 560459 AB 2-Ship Takeoff
- 444 visits
, Rating: 4.31
-
560459
- 487 visits
-
2023/05 560459 Washed by 62d AW
- 502 visits
-
2023/05 560459 Washed by 62d AW
- 508 visits
-
590049
- 508 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Last Six Alert Day
- 518 visits
-
2023/05 560459 Washed by 62d AW
- 530 visits
-
580776 Centennial Between McChord & Kingsley
- 612 visits
-
590022 590057
- 626 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Last Six Alert Day
- 632 visits
-
Patch Hughes Trophy 1984 318th FIS
- 656 visits
-
560466 Old Tail Flash
- 686 visits
-
thumb318
- 696 visits
-
318 FIS-Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Last Six Alert Day
- 711 visits
-
590059 TAC Tail and Kill Markings from Giant Voice 1979
- 732 visits
![590059 TAC Tail and Kill Markings from Giant Voice 1979](_data/i/upload/2019/08/14/20190814200812-a03adb4f-cu_s9999x225.jpg "590059 TAC Tail and Kill Markings from Giant Voice 1979 (732 visits)
F-106A 59-0059 of the 318 FIS McChord AFB WA with Giant Voice 1979 "kill" markings on t...")
-
folder-icon
- 762 visits
-
560463 J75-P-17 Engine
- 766 visits
, Rating: 4.31
-
580776 Centennial Between McChord & Kingsley
- 793 visits
-
590141 with F-15 760141
- 820 visits
-
590004 Painting Firing AIM-4 by Mark Karvon to Bob Bruce
- 848 visits
-
Genie Load 318FIS 1970s John Kelly
- 850 visits
-
FB IMG 1483146579834
- 872 visits
-
570234 Maintenance
- 882 visits
, Rating: 3.05
-
590057 Final Wash
- 893 visits
-
590004
- 896 visits
-
2021 560459 Snowy Day Feb 13
- 913 visits
-
580776 Centennial Between McChord & Kingsley
- 918 visits
, Rating: 4.31
-
590004 WT74 Prep
- 920 visits
-
580776 Centennial at Abbotsford Airshow 1976
- 936 visits
-
580776 Centennial at Abbotsford Airshow 1976
- 951 visits
-
580776 Centennial at Abbotsford Airshow 1976
- 952 visits
-
590141 Last Flight to AMARC from 318th 4Nov83
- 959 visits
-
560457 WT82
- 963 visits
-
Engine 318FIS McChord
- 967 visits
-
590059 Old Tail Flash
- 1018 visits
, Rating: 4.31
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Larry Mogavero Dec 1983
- 1021 visits
-
Hush House 318 FIS
- 1024 visits
-
590059
- 1027 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-SSgt Mike Nieves Instruments
- 1033 visits
-
Thumbnail-318
- 1070 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Larry Mogavero and Patrick McGee Dec1983
- 1089 visits
-
560457 WT82
- 1125 visits
-
590143 590147 Old Tailflash
- 1131 visits
-
590057
- 1141 visits
-
590152 Old Tail Flash
- 1171 visits
-
590057
- 1176 visits
-
Sign at McChord 1983
- 1208 visits
-
WT82 318 FIS Maint Area
- 1213 visits
-
Pair of Sixes Taking Off - Old Tails
- 1236 visits
-
WT82 318 FIS Maintenance
- 1243 visits
-
Patch 318th Patch Det1
- 1248 visits
-
590152
- 1258 visits
-
Eielson AFB 318th FIS F-106
- 1264 visits
, Rating: 4.31
-
WT81 318 FIS
- 1273 visits
-
590148
- 1275 visits
-
560466
- 1287 visits
-
Inactivation Ceremony 7 Dec 1989
- 1287 visits
-
590141 580776 WT74
- 1289 visits
-
WT82 318 FIS Maintenance
- 1292 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-MSgt Black
- 1293 visits
-
WT82
- 1299 visits
-
590058 572465 590063 Tyndall TA 1980
- 1313 visits
-
590147 WT74
- 1314 visits
-
590152
- 1319 visits
-
WT82 318 FIS Pilot and CC
- 1326 visits
-
560466
- 1339 visits
-
560459 and 590016
- 1343 visits
-
590108 590147 590141 580776 590198 WT74
- 1347 visits
-
Dragon Master Card Jim May
- 1347 visits
-
Alert Barn McChord
- 1348 visits
, Rating: 3.05
-
590057 Engine Removal
- 1349 visits
-
560463
- 1357 visits
-
Welcome Brochure 1964
- 1358 visits
-
WT82 318 FIS Maint Area
- 1363 visits
-
590143 WT74
- 1366 visits
© F-106DeltaDart.com