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.
-
*Osan Korea 1968 318 FIS
34 photos
-
560464 Crash
1964 Capt Huss
51 photos
-
590144 Crash
1978 Capt Miller
14 photos
-
Combat Pike 1981 Tyndall AFB Flightline 318FIS
- 2526 visits
-
Combat Pike 1981 Tyndall AFB Flightline 318FIS
- 2625 visits
-
3-ship Landing
- 1926 visits
-
590057
- 1975 visits
-
580158
- 1774 visits
-
580158
- 2150 visits
-
570234 580158
- 2192 visits
-
Alert Barn
- 2735 visits
-
590141
- 1894 visits
-
590059
- 1906 visits
-
Row of 318th Sixes
- 1632 visits
-
590058 Trip Pad at Dusk
- 2644 visits
, Rating: 4.30
-
590058
- 1726 visits
-
560466
- 2066 visits
-
590152
- 2136 visits
-
570243
- 1893 visits
-
570243
- 2273 visits
-
590058
- 2229 visits
-
560457 590143
- 2182 visits
, Rating: 4.30
-
560459
- 2276 visits
-
590143
- 1909 visits
-
590110
- 1930 visits
-
T-33
- 1681 visits
-
Row of 318th T-33s
- 1687 visits
-
590059
- 1709 visits
-
590141
- 2372 visits
-
590108
- 2226 visits
-
590141
- 2414 visits
-
580158
- 2374 visits
-
Squadron Sign
- 1421 visits
, Rating: 3.33
-
590152
- 2069 visits
-
560457 WT82
- 1145 visits
-
560457 WT82
- 2648 visits
-
Patch Hughes Award 1984 38th FIS
- 2795 visits
-
DET-1 318th FIS F-15 Fiberglass Model
- 2276 visits
-
DET-1 318th FIS F-15 Fiberglass Model
- 1917 visits
-
DET-1 318th FIS F-15 Fiberglass Model
- 2118 visits
-
DET-1 318th FIS F-15 Fiberglass Model
- 2427 visits
-
Gene Johnson T-33
- 2130 visits
, Rating: 4.30
-
590054 Mid-Air No-Nose
- 6215 visits
, Rating: 4.30
-
Patch 318th Maintenance on Field Jacket
- 2963 visits
-
Patch 318th Patch
- 2127 visits
, Rating: 3.05
-
Patch 318th Patch
- 2605 visits
, Rating: 4.30
-
Patch 318th Patch
- 3118 visits
, Rating: 4.30
-
Patch 318th Patch Centential
- 2818 visits
-
Patch 318th Patch Det1
- 1269 visits
-
Patch 318th Patch Shoulder MA-1
- 2466 visits
, Rating: 2.63
-
Patch 318th Patch Shoulder Maintenance
- 3098 visits
-
Patch 318th Patch Shoulder Maintenance Sub
- 2056 visits
-
Patch 318th Patch Shoulder Maintenance Sub
- 3083 visits
-
Patch 318th Patch Shoulder OPS
- 2946 visits
-
Patch 318th Patch Shoulder Pilot/Ops
- 3267 visits
-
Patch 318th Patch Sub
- 2616 visits
-
Patch 318th Patch Sub Det 1
- 2894 visits
-
Patch 318th Patch T-33 Sub
- 2665 visits
-
Patch Graphic 318th
- 2849 visits
-
Patch Hughes Award 1975 318th FIS
- 2377 visits
-
Patch Hughes Trophy 1984 318th FIS
- 668 visits
-
Scarf 318th Pilot T-33
- 1720 visits
-
2002 560459
- 2812 visits
-
2021 560459 Snowy Day Feb 13
- 930 visits
-
2023/05 560459 Washed by 62d AW
- 523 visits
-
2023/05 560459 Washed by 62d AW
- 531 visits
-
2023/05 560459 Washed by 62d AW
- 558 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-MSgt Black
- 1311 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 194th Arrives
- 3614 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 580783
- 3923 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 580783
- 3349 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 590038 580783
- 3778 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 590038 580783
- 4365 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out 590038 580783
- 4244 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Larry Mogavero and Patrick McGee Dec1983
- 1109 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Larry Mogavero Dec 1983
- 1044 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Last Flight Out 580774
- 3858 visits
, Rating: 3.33
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Last Six Alert Day
- 645 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Last Six Alert Day
- 530 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Last Take-Off 580774 580783
- 3549 visits
-
318 Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-SSgt Mike Nieves Instruments
- 1054 visits
-
318 FIS-Det 1 Castle AFB Alert Close-Out Last Six Alert Day
- 726 visits
-
5-Ship Formation Mt Rainer
- 2398 visits