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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*Osan Korea 1968 318 FIS
34 photos
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560464 Crash
1964 Capt Huss
51 photos
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590144 Crash
1978 Capt Miller
14 photos
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WT82 Blivit Firing 318 FIS -4
- 2221 visits
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WT82 Blivit Firing 318 FIS -3
- 2404 visits
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WT82 Blivit Firing 318 FIS -2
- 2418 visits
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WT82 Blivit Firing 318 FIS -1
- 2385 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Pilot and CC
- 1327 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maintenance
- 1818 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maintenance
- 1524 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maintenance
- 1583 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maintenance
- 1244 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maintenance
- 1293 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maintenance
- 1719 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maint Area
- 1444 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maint Area
- 1460 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maint Area
- 1215 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maint Area
- 1364 visits
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WT82
- 1300 visits
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WT81 318 FIS Weapons Load
- 2506 visits
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WT81 318 FIS
- 1274 visits
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WT72 318 FIS Load Practice
- 1498 visits
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WT63 318FIS
- 1638 visits
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WT63 318FIS
- 1900 visits
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Wpns Load Comp 318th NORAD 1978
- 4621 visits
, Rating: 2.22
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Wpns Load Comp 318th NORAD 1978
- 3691 visits
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Wpns Load Comp 318th NORAD 1978
- 3716 visits
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Welcome Brochure 1964
- 1359 visits
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Weapons Load Comp 318th 1972 590151 (4)
- 3908 visits
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Weapons Load Comp 318th 1972 (3)
- 3996 visits
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Weapons Load Comp 318th 1972 (2)
- 3930 visits
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Weapons Load Comp 318th 1972 (1)
- 3872 visits
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Thumbnail-318
- 1071 visits
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thumb318
- 697 visits
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T-33
- 1671 visits
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Squadron Sign
- 1408 visits
, Rating: 3.33
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Six Shooter and Osan Korea Footage
- 2470498 visits
, Rating: 4.31
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Sign at McChord 1983
- 1210 visits
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Row of 318th T-33s
- 1675 visits
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Row of 318th Sixes
- 1619 visits
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Pair of Sixes Taking Off - Old Tails
- 1239 visits
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Over Mt Rainier
- 1961 visits
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Osan Korea 318th
- 6424 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7200 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7230 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7398 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 8932 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 6997 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7021 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7069 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7617 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7078 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 8928 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 6851 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7531 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7837 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 6468 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7262 visits
, Rating: 3.47
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7260 visits
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Maj Peterson's Crash by Don Ward
- 1853 visits
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J75 Turbojet Engine and Crate
- 2001 visits
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J75 Turbojet Engine
- 2618 visits
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J75 Turbojet Engine
- 2597 visits
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J75 Turbojet Engine
- 2598 visits
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J75 Turbojet Engine
- 2681 visits
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J75 Turbojet Engine
- 2992 visits
, Rating: 2.64
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J75 Turbojet Engine
- 3218 visits
, Rating: 2.64
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Inactivation Ceremony 7 Dec 1989
- 1288 visits
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Hush House 318 FIS
- 1025 visits
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Genie Load 318FIS 1970s John Kelly
- 852 visits
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Gene Johnson T-33
- 2043 visits
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Gene Johnson T-33
- 2121 visits
, Rating: 4.31
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folder-icon
- 763 visits
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Fog on the Flight Line
- 1499 visits
, Rating: 4.31
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Flight Line of 318th Sixes
- 2274 visits
, Rating: 4.31
![Flight Line of 318th Sixes](_data/i/upload/2011/11/14/20111114161812-f4a5f15e-cu_s9999x225.jpg "Flight Line of 318th Sixes (2274 visits, rating score 4.31)
318th FIS Flightline, McChord AFB. Wa.-"Echo" ramp.all a/c assigned.circa 1975 . photo ...")
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Flight Line
- 2090 visits
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FB IMG 1483146579834
- 873 visits
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F-106A WT82
- 1553 visits
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F-106A WT82
- 1509 visits
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Engine Work 318FIS
- 253 visits
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Engine Shop 318th FIS
- 1537 visits
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Engine Bay 318th F-106
- 2249 visits
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Engine 318FIS McChord
- 968 visits
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