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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Engine Work 318FIS
- 259 visits
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590059 TAC Tail and Kill Markings from Giant Voice 1979
- 263 visits
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590057
- 305 visits
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590058 572465 1980
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580776 1980
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560457 560459 AB 2-Ship Takeoff
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, Rating: 4.30
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590049
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2023/05 560459 Washed by 62d AW
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580776 Centennial Between McChord & Kingsley
- 617 visits
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590022 590057
- 632 visits
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318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Last Six Alert Day
- 641 visits
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- 666 visits
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- 695 visits
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thumb318
- 700 visits
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318 FIS-Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Last Six Alert Day
- 720 visits
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590059 TAC Tail and Kill Markings from Giant Voice 1979
- 739 visits
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folder-icon
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- 793 visits
, Rating: 4.30
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- 797 visits
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- 862 visits
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Genie Load 318FIS 1970s John Kelly
- 862 visits
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FB IMG 1483146579834
- 876 visits
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570234 Maintenance
- 892 visits
, Rating: 3.05
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590057 Final Wash
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590004
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- 925 visits
, Rating: 4.30
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- 958 visits
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- 1025 visits
, Rating: 4.30
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- 1030 visits
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590059
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318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Larry Mogavero Dec 1983
- 1038 visits
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318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-SSgt Mike Nieves Instruments
- 1049 visits
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Thumbnail-318
- 1078 visits
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318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Larry Mogavero and Patrick McGee Dec1983
- 1102 visits
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590057
- 1150 visits
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590152 Old Tail Flash
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590057
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Sign at McChord 1983
- 1215 visits
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- 1222 visits
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- 1249 visits
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- 1249 visits
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- 1264 visits
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590152
- 1265 visits
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- 1272 visits
, Rating: 4.30
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590148
- 1280 visits
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- 1283 visits
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Inactivation Ceremony 7 Dec 1989
- 1295 visits
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560466
- 1297 visits
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590141 580776 WT74
- 1298 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maintenance
- 1301 visits
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318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-MSgt Black
- 1304 visits
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WT82
- 1309 visits
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590058 572465 590063 Tyndall TA 1980
- 1321 visits
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590152
- 1323 visits
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590147 WT74
- 1331 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Pilot and CC
- 1331 visits
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560466
- 1347 visits
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Dragon Master Card Jim May
- 1352 visits
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Alert Barn McChord
- 1354 visits
, Rating: 3.05
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590108 590147 590141 580776 590198 WT74
- 1359 visits
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560459 and 590016
- 1363 visits
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590057 Engine Removal
- 1364 visits
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560463
- 1366 visits
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Welcome Brochure 1964
- 1367 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maint Area
- 1368 visits
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590143 WT74
- 1379 visits