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
- 2238 visits
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WT82 Blivit Firing 318 FIS -3
- 2413 visits
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WT82 Blivit Firing 318 FIS -2
- 2428 visits
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WT82 Blivit Firing 318 FIS -1
- 2394 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Pilot and CC
- 1330 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maintenance
- 1820 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maintenance
- 1527 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maintenance
- 1596 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maintenance
- 1248 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maintenance
- 1300 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maintenance
- 1721 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maint Area
- 1446 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maint Area
- 1471 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maint Area
- 1220 visits
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WT82 318 FIS Maint Area
- 1366 visits
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WT82
- 1308 visits
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WT81 318 FIS Weapons Load
- 2512 visits
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WT81 318 FIS
- 1282 visits
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WT72 318 FIS Load Practice
- 1513 visits
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WT63 318FIS
- 1654 visits
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WT63 318FIS
- 1915 visits
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Wpns Load Comp 318th NORAD 1978
- 4639 visits
, Rating: 2.22
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Wpns Load Comp 318th NORAD 1978
- 3717 visits
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Wpns Load Comp 318th NORAD 1978
- 3730 visits
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Welcome Brochure 1964
- 1366 visits
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Weapons Load Comp 318th 1972 590151 (4)
- 3929 visits
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Weapons Load Comp 318th 1972 (3)
- 4013 visits
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Weapons Load Comp 318th 1972 (2)
- 3948 visits
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Weapons Load Comp 318th 1972 (1)
- 3886 visits
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Thumbnail-318
- 1076 visits
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thumb318
- 698 visits
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T-33
- 1675 visits
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Squadron Sign
- 1413 visits
, Rating: 3.33
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Six Shooter and Osan Korea Footage
- 2472159 visits
, Rating: 4.30
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Sign at McChord 1983
- 1214 visits
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Row of 318th T-33s
- 1680 visits
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Row of 318th Sixes
- 1624 visits
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Pair of Sixes Taking Off - Old Tails
- 1248 visits
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Over Mt Rainier
- 1963 visits
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Osan Korea 318th
- 6458 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7232 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7273 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7429 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 8967 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7034 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7056 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7102 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7646 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7106 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 8957 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 6883 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7562 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7870 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 6503 visits
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7296 visits
, Rating: 3.47
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Osan AB 318 FIS 1968
- 7298 visits
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Maj Peterson's Crash by Don Ward
- 1857 visits
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J75 Turbojet Engine and Crate
- 2004 visits
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J75 Turbojet Engine
- 2625 visits
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J75 Turbojet Engine
- 2611 visits
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J75 Turbojet Engine
- 2604 visits
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J75 Turbojet Engine
- 2692 visits
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J75 Turbojet Engine
- 3002 visits
, Rating: 2.64
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J75 Turbojet Engine
- 3230 visits
, Rating: 2.64
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Inactivation Ceremony 7 Dec 1989
- 1293 visits
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Hush House 318 FIS
- 1027 visits
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Genie Load 318FIS 1970s John Kelly
- 860 visits
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Gene Johnson T-33
- 2047 visits
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Gene Johnson T-33
- 2123 visits
, Rating: 4.30
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folder-icon
- 766 visits
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Fog on the Flight Line
- 1505 visits
, Rating: 4.30
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Flight Line of 318th Sixes
- 2278 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 (2278 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
- 2092 visits
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FB IMG 1483146579834
- 875 visits
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F-106A WT82
- 1556 visits
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F-106A WT82
- 1511 visits
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Engine Work 318FIS
- 255 visits
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Engine Shop 318th FIS
- 1542 visits
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Engine Bay 318th F-106
- 2260 visits
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Engine 318FIS McChord
- 972 visits
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