Wings of Fame Vol 12 incorrectly describes the photos as "To commemorate the feats of Eddie Rickenbacker 50 years before, a Spad XIII was displayed at Andrews AFB with 71st FIS F-106AA 58-0767 in 1968. The dart wears a William Tell special color scheme and the pilots wear the flying gear of their respective periods.".

This however, is not the accurate story of this photo. Here is what the man in the photo, Roy Morris, has to say about it as told to me your webmaster on 25 Jul 2000 "I know beyond a doubt it was made in early 1965 at what was then Selfridge AFB. The anniversary of the 94th FIS was in 1967 also held at Selfridge. Just before, or shortly after, that event, the Spad was moved next to one of the 94th's [94 FIS] Darts. I have another photo of the Spad taken on that day, as well as a photo of Eddie Rickenbacker that I had taken in our [94 FIS] briefing room. I remember the composite photo appeared in at least two issues of "Assignment Selfridge", a book which was an introduction to Selfridge and environs. (Once on the cover, again inside as a half page and possibly a third time as a small photo). My roommate, Joe Otlewski, had a new issue of "Assignment Selfridge". He thought it was a picture of me and someone else with the Spad and the Dart. I didn't originally think it was since I had never had a picture taken near any of the 106s [that I recalled]. Joe insisted it was me, though, and called the base photo lab to find out where and when the photo was taken. Joe was told that it was a 'composite' photo and confirmed that it was me in the pressure suit. Shortly thereafter, Squadron Operations was called by someone from the Pentagon wanting to know the names of the airmen and the photographer as the photo was going to be made an official Air Force photograph. I was then sent a poster-sized copy. Some years after moving to California and joining the California Air National Guard I loaned the photo to the civilian cafeteria at Ontario ANG Base. I left the guard just prior to their move to March AFB and had forgotten about my picture until I visited the Selfridge ANG Base Museum while on vacation in the mid 1980's, at which time I took a photograph of their original. Since then, I have been in search of another copy to have as my own again." ... Roy Morris

8 Nov 2000 Roy Morris sent me this Part 2 of his story:
"I am back with what I feel is the unequivocal answer to the photo of me with the Spad and The F-106. A few months back I was in Michigan and went to Selfridge Air National Base Museum. I meet with Executive Director LtCol Louis Nigro after calling to see if he knew anything about this photograph. He invited me to come to the base and see if the picture was still on display. He informed me that the museum was in the process of moving into a different building and that he was unsure of the pictures location. He invited me to come and see if I could find it on display. Even though the museum was not open to the public during the week he said that he would let me look around. I didn't see the picture in any of the displays and went back to his office to thank him for allowing me to look for it. When I told him that I did not find it he told me that he did remember seeing it, however many items were still packed from the move. He said that he would ask the others on his staff if they knew its' whereabouts and that I leave a phone number and he would contact me when it was located.
Well, last month I got a call from Col Nigro. He told me that they had found the picture. I ask if he could have a copy made and he ask for my address and would send it out right away. Three days later a mailing tube arrived at my office from the Col. When I took the picture out I almost fell over. He had sent me the original that had been on display, not a copy! I call him to thank him and let him know that I would return it as soon as I could find some place that could make that size of copies. He told me that the print was for me because they no longer had room for it. The picture had suffered some minor water damage, but was generally in good condition, considering that it is thirty five years old.

Now for what is known about this photograph.
The title printed at the bottom left, is "THE SPAD AND THE DELTA DART".
The photographer was A1C David Jones.
A small number 84 is under his name in the lower right corner.
The tail number for the F-106A is 58-0788.
On the back side is hand written '1965 William Tell' F106 of 71 FISQ Restored Spad VII. [58-0788 was assigned to the 94 FIS at this time, but flew with the 71 FIS during WT65]
I have sent email to WINGS OF FAME asking for any information that they may have regarding the photo and caption in there book, but I never received a response from them". Regards - Roy [Morris]
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A1C David Jones
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