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
-
Combat Pike 1981 Tyndall AFB Flightline 318FIS
- 2483 visits
-
Combat Pike 1981 Tyndall AFB Flightline 318FIS
- 2582 visits
-
3-ship Landing
- 1913 visits
-
590057
- 1965 visits
-
580158
- 1754 visits
-
580158
- 2138 visits
-
570234 580158
- 2176 visits
-
Alert Barn
- 2721 visits
-
590141
- 1887 visits
-
590059
- 1894 visits
-
Row of 318th Sixes
- 1619 visits
-
590058 Trip Pad at Dusk
- 2630 visits
, Rating: 4.31
-
590058
- 1713 visits
-
560466
- 2046 visits
-
590152
- 2127 visits
-
570243
- 1879 visits
-
570243
- 2250 visits
-
590058
- 2219 visits
-
560457 590143
- 2159 visits
, Rating: 4.31
-
560459
- 2258 visits
-
590143
- 1901 visits
-
590110
- 1918 visits
-
T-33
- 1671 visits
-
Row of 318th T-33s
- 1675 visits
-
590059
- 1697 visits
-
590141
- 2360 visits
-
590108
- 2206 visits
-
590141
- 2401 visits
-
580158
- 2362 visits
-
Squadron Sign
- 1408 visits
, Rating: 3.33
-
590152
- 2061 visits
-
560457 WT82
- 1127 visits
-
560457 WT82
- 2634 visits
-
Patch Hughes Award 1984 38th FIS
- 2765 visits
-
DET-1 318th FIS F-15 Fiberglass Model
- 2264 visits
-
DET-1 318th FIS F-15 Fiberglass Model
- 1903 visits
-
DET-1 318th FIS F-15 Fiberglass Model
- 2105 visits
-
DET-1 318th FIS F-15 Fiberglass Model
- 2416 visits
-
Gene Johnson T-33
- 2121 visits
, Rating: 4.31
-
590054 Mid-Air No-Nose
- 6120 visits
, Rating: 4.31
-
Patch 318th Maintenance on Field Jacket
- 2927 visits
-
Patch 318th Patch
- 2112 visits
, Rating: 3.06
-
Patch 318th Patch
- 2580 visits
, Rating: 4.31
-
Patch 318th Patch
- 3100 visits
, Rating: 4.31
-
Patch 318th Patch Centential
- 2785 visits
-
Patch 318th Patch Det1
- 1251 visits
-
Patch 318th Patch Shoulder MA-1
- 2445 visits
, Rating: 2.64
-
Patch 318th Patch Shoulder Maintenance
- 3074 visits
-
Patch 318th Patch Shoulder Maintenance Sub
- 2035 visits
-
Patch 318th Patch Shoulder Maintenance Sub
- 3063 visits
-
Patch 318th Patch Shoulder OPS
- 2922 visits
-
Patch 318th Patch Shoulder Pilot/Ops
- 3247 visits
-
Patch 318th Patch Sub
- 2595 visits
-
Patch 318th Patch Sub Det 1
- 2870 visits
-
Patch 318th Patch T-33 Sub
- 2642 visits
-
Patch Graphic 318th
- 2827 visits
-
Patch Hughes Award 1975 318th FIS
- 2352 visits
-
Patch Hughes Trophy 1984 318th FIS
- 657 visits
-
Scarf 318th Pilot T-33
- 1705 visits
-
2002 560459
- 2793 visits
-
2021 560459 Snowy Day Feb 13
- 915 visits
-
2023/05 560459 Washed by 62d AW
- 503 visits
-
2023/05 560459 Washed by 62d AW
- 511 visits
-
2023/05 560459 Washed by 62d AW
- 534 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-MSgt Black
- 1295 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 194th Arrives
- 3599 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 580783
- 3905 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 580783
- 3329 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 590038 580783
- 3758 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 590038 580783
- 4348 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 590038 580783
- 4227 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Larry Mogavero and Patrick McGee Dec1983
- 1091 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Larry Mogavero Dec 1983
- 1023 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Last Flight Out 580774
- 3840 visits
, Rating: 3.33
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Last Six Alert Day
- 633 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Last Six Alert Day
- 519 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Last Take-Off 580774 580783
- 3535 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-SSgt Mike Nieves Instruments
- 1037 visits
-
318 FIS-Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Last Six Alert Day
- 712 visits
-
5-Ship Formation Mt Rainer
- 2387 visits