To complete the restoration of the McChord Museum’s F-106 s/n 56-0459, current plans are to recover the necessary components from The Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center affectionally known as the “Boneyard” located at Davis Monthan AFB, AZ. To recover these parts, the Foundation must pay for the recovery (which can be as much as $95.00 an hour) and shipping. To help out in this expensive venture and other restoration needs, The McChord Foundation’s F-106 Restoration Crew is accepting your tax-deductible contribution to assist foundation Volunteers in this restoration project. A full 100% of your tax-deductible contribution will go for the FIX-A-SIX Restoration Project. Please add "FIX-A-SIX FUND" on the front of your check.

Below you will find the first of many items we are offering in support of the FIX –A-SIX Restoration Project, 100% of the proceeds from the sale of the items below will go towards the McChord Museums F-106 Restoration Project.  

To order, e-mail  fix-a-six@mcchordairmuseum.org

The painting above depicts the Museums F-106 during it’s final years with the 318th FIS flying over Washington State’s Mt. St. Helens, as the Volcano appeared after it’s 1980 eruption. (Click HERE for the story of  Capt. Randy Neville's flight over Mt. St Helens on the Morning of the eruption).

 This Limited Edition litho by noted aviation Artist Rick Broome of a painting commissioned by the 318th FIS to commemorate the squadrons long service in the F-106. Mr. Broome has released the last (no more than 10 lithos) of 350 copies to the McChord Museum to support this Restoration Project. All of the lithos sold by the McChord Museum will be co-signed by two of 56-0459’s pilots, Col. Joe Rogers and Col. Randy Neville.  

 1959 WORLD SPEED RECORD HOLDER - COMBAT PILOT, YF-12A/SR-71 TEST PILOT   

Born on May 28, 1924 in Chillicothe, Ohio, Joseph W. Rogers began his historic aviation career when he joined the Army Air Corps on May 23, 1943. After graduating Aviation Cadet Training Class 44H at Williams Army Air Field, AZ in 1944, Rogers served as an instructor pilot  flying AT-6 Texan and BT-13 Valiant training aircraft at Minter and Merced AAF’s.

In 1946, Rogers received orders to join the 431st FBS of the 475th FBW based at Kempo, Korea  to participate in United State’s effort to reinforce U.N. forces in that nation. On November 8, 1950, the then Capt. Rogers achieved a rare MiG-15 jet kill while flying in his piston-engined F-51D Mustang named Buckeye Blitz VI. After four years of combat in the  F-51, Joe transitioned into the F-80 Shooting Star with the 36th Fighter-Bomber Squadron of the 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing. By the end of his involvement in the War, Rogers logged almost 200 missions in the Korean Theater.

Back on US soil, the newly appointed Major continued his flying career with the famous 71st Fighter Squadron flying F-86A Sabre. In 1954, Rogers entered F-86D Maintenance School and later USAF’s Test Pilots School, among the students in his class were future astronauts L. Gordon Cooper, Jr. and Virgil “Gus” Grissom. After graduation, Rogers joined the F-86D Test Program, and later the F-102A/B / F-106A/B Interceptor Development Programs. During his next assignment as Project Officer for F-106 integration at Air Defense Command Headquarters, Joe was chosen for a project that changed his life.

After the Air Forces selection of the F-106 Delta Dart to make the Services latest attempt at the Absolute Speed Record, there was no question who would pilot the aircraft in this joint USAF / Convair project, Maj. Joe Rogers. On  December 15, 1959, the Major became the fastest Jet Pilot in the World after flying F-106A # 56-0467 to an average speed of 1525.95 mph. F-106 # -0467 flew the record flight after F-106A # 56-0459 experienced technical problems throughout the project. On its last flight in Firewall # -0459 became uncontrollable, fortunately Rogers was able to “settle her down” and land the aircraft. In honor of his skillful airmanship demonstrated during the "Firewall Project" Rogers received worldwide recognition and was presented the Distinguished Flying Cross, The DeLavaulx Medal, and the 25th recipient of the Thompson Trophy, an award that can be traced back to the National Air Races in 1929.

In 1960,  Lt. Col. Rogers  took command of the Air Force's largest Fighter Squadron, the 317th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron formerly based at McChord AFB, now headquartered at Elmendorf AFB, AK. Joe proved to be one of the Squadrons best Pilots flying in the F-102 Delta Dagger, this fact confirmed after winning the USAF’s Air to Air Weapons Meet, "Top Gun" award in 1963. The Fighter meet named  William Tell is a competition that pits the best Fighter-Interceptor aircrews from around the Air Force.

After a four year command of the 317th FIS, Joe was lured back to flight testing when he took command of the SR-71A / F-12A Test Force. On December 18, 1969, Joe cheated death once again. While flying a test mission with SR-71A # 64-17953, Col. Rogers and his RSO, Lt. Col. Gary Heidelbaugh experienced an in-flight explosion causing a very dangerous high-speed pitch up. Unable to regain control of the aircraft, both men were forced to eject from the aircraft.                   

In 1973, Joe was thrust back into combat in the skies of Asia as the Vice Commander of the 3rd Fighter Wing in  South Vietnam. He flew more than 40 missions, most of them in the A-37 Dragonfly and the F-4 Phantom II. Later, Rogers  served as Asst. Deputy Commander of the 7th and the 13th Air Forces in Vietnam.

In February 1975, during his final assignment as Chief of Staff for Operations at Aerospace Defense Headquarters, Joe Rogers retired from the Air Force after a 29 year career. After retirement Joe signed on with Northrop Aerospace, where he worked in the companies Fighter Division, Asian-Pacific Region, marketing F-5 Tiger & F-20 Tigershark fighter aircraft. Rogers retired after 13 years, but is still providing his valuable aviation knowledge to the company as a consultant.

After a historic 60 year aviation career, Joe Rogers is still flying from his home in California

F-106A 56-0459's LAST ASSIGNED PILOT - CURRENT F/A-22 TEST PILOT

Col. Randy Neville (USAF Ret) began this 20-year Air Force career in June of 1976 after Graduation from the University of Tennessee with a BS in Electrical Engineering. After attending pilot training at Williams AFB, Neville then joined the Air Defense Weapons Center’s 95th Fighter-Interceptor Training Squadron, and later with the 57th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Keflavik NAS, Iceland.

In March 1980 the then Captain joined McChord’s 318th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron,  which at that time flew the Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star proficiency trainer and the F-106A/B Delta Dart Interceptor.  During his three years with the “Green Dragons”  Neville proved to be one of the Squadrons best Pilots,   performing as one of the Squadrons, Instructor and Evaluation pilot and Flight  Commander. In 1982 the then Captain was selected for the team of "Top Gun's" to represent won the right to represent in the Squadron at the premier Worldwide Air Defense Weapons Competition, the 1982 William Tell Air-to-Air Weapons Meet, and the last for the Squadron in the F-106. 

After the 318th conversion to from the F-106 into the F-15 Eagle, Neville joined his first overseas unit, the F-16 equipped 401st Tactical Fighter Wing’s 614th Tactical Fighter Squadron Torrejon, Spain, later he would be back in the states with the 3246 Test Squadron, Eglin AFB, FL, and his final assignment as an Instructor and Director of Flight Operations for the USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB. After a 20 year career Randy Neville from the USAF in 1996.

Shortly after the end of his Air Force career, Randy continued his tie with high performance aircraft with his employment as a Test Pilot with Boeing’s F-22 Fight Test Organization during the fighters early development. During his time in Seattle, Neville would also work with Boeing's Commercial Flight Test organization, testing many of the company’s newest Commercial Airplane derivatives.  

As the F-22 program moved into the active flight test (airframe and avionics testing), Randy relocated to Edwards AFB, CA, and began flying the F-22, as well as the F-16, which is routinely use as a chase aircraft.  Randy has been one of a handful of pilots flying the F-22 over the last several years, and has participated in many of the Raptors historic milestones. 

Then Brigadier General Pete Todd, former Commander of the 25th NORAD Region/Air Division based at McChord AFB, is seen in the back seat of an F-106B flanked by F-106A's 60459 and 60457from the 318th FIS.  during his Command of the  Each Canvas Edition is signed by General Todd. 

Mr. Broome is also offering his other F-106 Delta Dart Canvas Gicleé editions for sale (below). For a one time set-up fee, any of the aircraft depicted in all of these Canvas prints can be produced with markings from any F-106 squadron. 

                       F-106A flying over a Mountain Range