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
- 2243 visits
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WT82 Blivit Firing 318 FIS -3
- 2418 visits
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WT82 Blivit Firing 318 FIS -2
- 2431 visits
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WT82 Blivit Firing 318 FIS -1
- 2397 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Pilot and CC
- 1331 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maintenance
- 1821 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maintenance
- 1530 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maintenance
- 1598 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maintenance
- 1249 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maintenance
- 1301 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maintenance
- 1722 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maint Area
- 1447 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maint Area
- 1475 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maint Area
- 1222 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maint Area
- 1368 visits
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WT82
- 1309 visits
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WT81 318 FIS Weapons Load
- 2521 visits
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WT81 318 FIS
- 1283 visits
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WT72 318 FIS Load Practice
- 1521 visits
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WT63 318FIS
- 1658 visits
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WT63 318FIS
- 1919 visits
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Wpns Load Comp 318th NORAD 1978
- 4646 visits
, Rating: 2.22
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Wpns Load Comp 318th NORAD 1978
- 3724 visits
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Wpns Load Comp 318th NORAD 1978
- 3740 visits
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Welcome Brochure 1964
- 1367 visits
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Weapons Load Comp 318th 1972 590151 (4)
- 3938 visits
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Weapons Load Comp 318th 1972 (3)
- 4019 visits
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Weapons Load Comp 318th 1972 (2)
- 3960 visits
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Weapons Load Comp 318th 1972 (1)
- 3895 visits
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Thumbnail-318
- 1078 visits
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thumb318
- 700 visits
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T-33
- 1677 visits
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Squadron Sign
- 1416 visits
, Rating: 3.33
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Six Shooter and Osan Korea Footage
- 2472554 visits
, Rating: 4.30
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Sign at McChord 1983
- 1215 visits
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Row of 318th T-33s
- 1682 visits
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Row of 318th Sixes
- 1625 visits
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Pair of Sixes Taking Off - Old Tails
- 1249 visits
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Over Mt Rainier
- 1964 visits
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Osan Korea 318th
- 6477 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7249 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7295 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7448 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 8991 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7053 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7083 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7124 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7664 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7121 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 8977 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 6904 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7585 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7891 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 6521 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7309 visits
, Rating: 3.47
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7317 visits
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Maj Peterson's Crash by Don Ward
- 1859 visits
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J75 Turbojet Engine and Crate
- 2006 visits
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J75 Turbojet Engine
- 2629 visits
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J75 Turbojet Engine
- 2614 visits
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J75 Turbojet Engine
- 2607 visits
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J75 Turbojet Engine
- 2697 visits
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J75 Turbojet Engine
- 3005 visits
, Rating: 2.63
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J75 Turbojet Engine
- 3234 visits
, Rating: 2.63
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Inactivation Ceremony 7 Dec 1989
- 1295 visits
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Hush House 318 FIS
- 1030 visits
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Genie Load 318FIS 1970s John Kelly
- 862 visits
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Gene Johnson T-33
- 2048 visits
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Gene Johnson T-33
- 2125 visits
, Rating: 4.30
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folder-icon
- 769 visits
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Fog on the Flight Line
- 1508 visits
, Rating: 4.30
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Flight Line of 318th Sixes
- 2280 visits
, Rating: 4.30
![Flight Line of 318th Sixes](_data/i/upload/2011/11/14/20111114161812-f4a5f15e-cu_s9999x225.jpg "Flight Line of 318th Sixes (2280 visits, rating score 4.30)
318th FIS Flightline, McChord AFB. Wa.-"Echo" ramp.all a/c assigned.circa 1975 . photo ...")
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Flight Line
- 2093 visits
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FB IMG 1483146579834
- 876 visits
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F-106A WT82
- 1558 visits
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F-106A WT82
- 1514 visits
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Engine Work 318FIS
- 259 visits
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Engine Shop 318th FIS
- 1543 visits
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Engine Bay 318th F-106
- 2266 visits
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Engine 318FIS McChord
- 975 visits
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