590141 with F-15 760141.jpg 590141 Last Flight to AMARC from 318th 4Nov83Thumbnails590143590141 Last Flight to AMARC from 318th 4Nov83Thumbnails590143590141 Last Flight to AMARC from 318th 4Nov83Thumbnails590143590141 Last Flight to AMARC from 318th 4Nov83Thumbnails590143590141 Last Flight to AMARC from 318th 4Nov83Thumbnails590143590141 Last Flight to AMARC from 318th 4Nov83Thumbnails590143590141 Last Flight to AMARC from 318th 4Nov83Thumbnails590143
F-106A 59-0141 with its replacement F-15 76-0141 of the 318th FIS, McChord AFB, WA in 1983.

This week of 15 Feb 2021, 31 years ago, the members of the 318th Fighter Interceptor Squadron held their inactivation ceremony after 47 years of service with the Air Force. For today’s Flashback Friday Feature we recognize this with a look back at a “beginning” and an “end” at the 318th FIS in the final years of the squadron’s existence.

After visiting McChord in 1987 last week's Flashback Friday Feature, we will jump back in that time machine, and spin the dials. After the smoke clears, we see that we are still at McChord.

As we leave the machine, there is a roar overhead, as we look skyward, we spot two sleek delta winged fighters escorting their twin tailed counterpart. After that pass, the roaring returns, this time the roles have been reversed. We see that single, twin tailed beast, a F-15 Eagle, escorting the two delta winged classics, F-106 Delta Darts. Now we know what day it is, June 10, 1983 the day the 318th FIS “Green Dragons” received their first F-15 Eagle replacing the squadrons longtime mount – the F-106 Delta Dart.

In the associated picture, we see the first F-15 a two seat “family model”, F-15B s/n 76-0141, a few days after her arrival at McChord AFB paving the way for 20 additional Eagles destined for the Base. Next to this aircraft, we see what will be the Green Dragons last active F-106, s/n 59-0141 – another “141”. Is the squadron paying homage to their hosts, the C-141 equipped 62d Military Airlift Wing? If that though crossed your mind, reading the bold statement “PROTECTORS OF MAC” painted on the side of the squadrons alert barns will very quickly kill that thought!

Over the next few months, more Eagle tails would appear on the ramps of McChord AFB as some of the “Starburst-less” F-106’s would leave the Base for the final time, off to new assignments in the freezing climates of North Dakota, Michigan or New York. Other “Sixes” designated for retirement, went the way of many “senior citizens”, off to the warm weather of Arizona.

On November 4, 1983, there was just one “Six” on the ramp, s/n 59-0141. This day would be her last at McChord after 17 years with the squadron.

Over the previous weeks, every F-106 leaving McChord for their last time would be honored by being flown by a “Green Dragon” pilot, 141’s last flight would be no different. For the man behind the controls of “141”, Lt. Col. Peter Bracci, this day would also be the last at the base. At the end of their flight, Bracci would start a new assignment at Davis-Monthan, taking command of the alert detachment of one of the benefactors of the 318th F-15 conversion, the 5th FIS, a North Dakota based F-106 Squadron that became a new home for some of the former Dragon “Sixes” with more life in their wings.

Similar to Lt. Col. Bracci, about two-thirds of the 318th, including their Commander, Lt Col. Pat Gamble, would leave McChord for other assignments in the F-106s or other aircraft. These members would be replaced by previously trained F-15 personnel from squadrons around the World. The remaining one-third of the former “Sixers”, would retrain into the new wiz kid - the F-15 Eagle.

By the end of the day “141” was back among a few of her former squadron-mates joining a group of only 20 F-106’s stored at her arrival at the “Boneyard”, including a number of “Bulls” and “Devils” - all taking a well-deserved rest.
-- McChord Air Museum
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