Imperial Starfighter Corps
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Imperial Starfighter Corps
General information
Formation type
Organizational information
Commanding officer(s)
Historical information
Formed from
Other information
Affiliation
Organization[]
Overview[]
The Imperial Starfighter Corps was composed of well-trained pilots.
The Imperial Starfighter Corps was theStarfighter Corps of theGalactic Empire'sImperial Navy's military branch, with theArmy Air Corps serving as theatmospheric fighterCorps of theImperial Army.[2] It was almost entirely composed ofImperial officers andImperial Starfighter Pilots. Its organizational military structure includingfighter wings,[7]flight groups,[8]squadrons,[9] andflights.[10] A full attack fighter wing was led by awing commander[11] and consisted of six squadrons, which included seventy-two starships that made up the full starfighter complement of anImperial-class Star Destroyer.[12] A flight group consisted of at least sixteen members.[8] A squadron was led by asquadron commander and consisted of twelve starships.[7] A squadron was then composed of several flights, which were led bylieutenants.[10]
Fighter wings could serve in the role of the starfighter support unit of aStar Destroyer, and thus were subordinate to the starship'scommander,[13] or they could serve as an autonomous military unit that was headquartered aboard aStarDestroyer, with the ship and its crew supporting the fighter wing's operations.[7] Additionally, a single squadron within a fleet could serve as the premier military unit, with operations centered around them. One such squadron wasTitan Squadron.[14]
Rank structure[]
Manymilitary ranks were used within the Imperial Starfighter Corps, including that ofgeneral,[15] with a wing typically falling under the command of acolonel[10] serving as aWing Commander.[15] High-rankingcommanding officers within the wing includedmajors, and even asecond lieutenant commander was used in at least one instance as thesquadron leader. The rank ofcaptain was subordinate to that,[10] and was followed byfirst lieutenant,[7]senior lieutenant,[9] lieutenant,[10], andflight officer.[9] An awarded title wasBaron of the Empire, which was rarely given out. Pilots who held this honor wore red streaks on their black pilot uniforms.[16] Notable figures who were given the title wereValen Rudor,[17]Soontir Fel,[18] andTitan Three ofTitan Squadron.[19]
History[]
Wielded by the Imperial Starfleet, starfighters formed a component of the Imperial war machine.
The Imperial Starfighter Corps was established after theProclamation of the New Order when theGalactic Republic transitioned into the Galactic Empire. TheRepublic Starfighter Corps, although organized under theRepublic Navy, was seen as an independent military branch. When the Corps became the Imperial Starfighter Corps, it was fully organized under the auspices of the Imperial Navy.[2] In the wake of the Emperor's death in theBattle of Endor, TIE fighter pilots continued to fight for the crumbling Empire, but the regime fractured into various squabbling factions.[19] The Galactic Civil War culminated in theBattle of Jakku.[8]
Units[]
TIE ships active under the 204th Imperial Fighter "Shadow Wing" force
The181st Imperial Fighter Wing was a fighter wing within the Imperial Starfighter Corps, and ships from the unit were characterized byred strips on the wings.[14] The204th Imperial Fighter Wing, nicknamed "Shadow Wing," was an elite fighter wing that operated in various locations, and was predominantly headquartered in theImperial I-class Star DestroyerPursuer. It was led by ColonelShakara Nuress and subsequently ColonelSoran Keize and consisted of six squadrons, includingSquadron Two,Squadron Three,Squadron Four,Squadron Five, andSquadron Six. It consisted of several flights, including aflight that was led by LieutenantPalal Seedia.[10]Another fighter wing served as the starfighter complement of theImperial II-class Star DestroyerBellicose, and includedBeta Squadron.[13]Alpha Flight Group andOmega Flight Group served within the Corps, and participated in various actions during theGalactic Civil War.[8] Another flight group wasClone Flight Squad Seven, which originally served in theClone Wars under theGalactic Republic.[20]
Many squadrons were part of the Corps, includingBanshee Squadron from theImperial-class Star DestroyerSolar Storm,[11]Darth Vader'sBlack Squadron from theDeath Star,[21]Delta Squadron based onLothal,[22] asquadron that entirely defected,[7]Sapphire Squadron,[23]Vixus Squadron,[24] andYellow Squadron.[4]
TheThird Fleet's flagship, Star DestroyerFiredrake, deployedSquadron One andSquadron Two.[25] TheSeventh Fleet's flagship, the modifiedImperial I-class Star DestroyerChimaera, utilizedDefender Squadron One,Squadron Two,Squadron Three,Squadron Four, andSquadron Five.[26] Prior to becoming the flagship of the SeventhFleet, theChimaera deployedSpecial Unit One.[27]The Imperial naval groupDeath Squadron contained asquadron led byCommanderGradd.[28]A TIE squadron was part of theHunter Fleet led byCommanderEllian Zahra.[29]
Elite squadrons were deployed during the war, includingTempest Squadron,[30]Titan Squadron,[14] andanother elite squadron.[31]
Imperial cadet squadrons were also utilized in combat and as part of the Corps, includingCarida Squadron from theCarida Academy[32] andOnyx Squadron.[33]Delta Flight was a flight headquartered on the planetRyloth.[34]
Vehicles and machinery[]
Overview[]
Manned by a single, armored pilot, the twin ion engine was mass-produced as a common Imperial starfighter.
As the premier Starfighter Corps of theImperial Military, the Imperial Starfighter Corps was equipped with a various array of Imperial starfighters and craft.[2]
Starfighters[]
Starfighters were the core of the Imperial Starfighter Corps, with such models being theAggressive ReConnaissance-170 starfighter,[4] theTIE fighter prototype which served as the precursor of theTIE fighter seriesTIE/ln space superiority starfighter.[35] Other models were theTIE scout,[7]TIE/sr,TIE/rc,TIE/fc,[36]TIE/ag "Aggressor" Starfighter,TIE/ph "Phantom" Multi-Role Stealth Starfighter,[31] and theTIE/sk "Striker" x1 experimental air superiority fighter.[37]
Interceptors[]
The mainlineinterceptors included theEta-2Actis-class light interceptors,[38]Alpha-3Nimbus-class V-wing starfighter,[34] followed by theTIE/IN interceptor,[39] which had acrimson variant.[40] More advanced classes included theTIE/d "Defender" Multi-Role Starfighter,[41]TIE/D Defender Elite,[42]TIE Advanced v1, and theTIE Advanced x1.[43] TheTIE Avenger was inspired by developments that came after the Advanced x1's prototype.[36] TheM3-A Scyk interceptor also saw use.[31]
Heavy starfighters and bombers[]
Heavy starfighters andbombers included theTIE/gt which was the precursor of the[44]TIE/sa Surface Assault Bomber.[43] TheTIE/ca capital assault "Punisher" Starfighter was deployed,[31] as was theTIE/rb "Brute" reinforcement battery heavy starfighter.[45]
Large craft[]
The Imperial Starfighter Corps operated an arsenal of larger craft, including theVT-49 Decimator,[41]TIE boarding craft,[35]TIE lander,[46]TIE/rp Reaper attack lander,[47] and theTIE/sh shuttle.[48]
Behind the scenes[]
The Imperial Starfighter Corps first appeared inStar Wars: Episode IVA New Hope[6] and was identified inStar Wars Propaganda: A History of Persuasive Art in the Galaxy.[3]
Appearances[]
Non-canon appearances[]
LEGO Star Wars: Microfighters — "Microfighter Obstacle Course"- LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "A Hero Discovered"
- LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "Crossing Paths"
- LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "Return of the Kyber Saber"
- LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "Rowan's Secret Adventure"
- LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "Thrown Into Battle"
- LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "Zander Freemaker, Superstar Pilot Guy!"
- LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — "A New Home"
- LEGO Star Wars: All-Stars — "The Chase with Han"
Sources[]
- Star Wars Helmet Collection: Luke Skywalker (X-Wing Pilot)Highlights of the Saga: The Battle of Yavin(Picture only)
- Star Wars Propaganda: A History of Persuasive Art in the Galaxy(First identified as Imperial Starfighter Corps)
- Star Wars: Build Your Own R2-D2 1Building the Galaxy: Designing R2-D2, Part 1(Picture only)
- Star Wars: Build Your Own R2-D2 2Building the Galaxy: Designing R2-D2, Part 2(Picture only)
- Star Wars: Build Your Own R2-D2 3Building the Galaxy: Motion Control Filming(Picture only)
- Star Wars: Build Your Own R2-D2 4Building the Galaxy: Filming R2-D2, Part 1(Picture only)
- Star Wars: Build Your Own R2-D2 5Building the Galaxy: Filming R2-D2, Part 2(Picture only)
- Star Wars: Build Your Own R2-D2 6Building the Galaxy: Filming R2-D2, Part 3(Picture only)
- Star Wars: The Rebel Files
- Star Wars Bust Collection: StormtrooperCharacter: Stormtroopers(Picture only)
- Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles
- Star Wars: Build Your Own X-Wing 1Creating a Starship Fleet: Ralph McQuarrie — The Man Who DrewStar Wars(Picture only)
- TIE Fighter Owners' Workshop Manual
- Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian — "Score"
- "Imperial Troops" —Star Wars Encyclopedia
- Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition —TIE/rb Heavy Expansion PackCard:Carida Academy Cadet — TIE/rb Heavy(Picture only)
- Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition —TIE/rb Heavy Expansion PackCard:Ion Limiter OverrideReissued inNimbus-class V-Wing Expansion Pack,Fury of the First Order Squadron Pack, andPride of Mandalore Reinforcements Pack(Picture only)
- Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition —TIE/rb Heavy Expansion PackCard:Lyttan Dree — TIE/rb Heavy(Picture only)
- Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition —TIE/rb Heavy Expansion PackCard:Maneuver-Assist MGK-300(Picture only)
- Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition —TIE/rb Heavy Expansion PackCard:Onyx Squadron Sentry — TIE/rb Heavy(Picture only)
- Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition —TIE/rb Heavy Expansion PackCard:"Rampage" — TIE/rb Heavy(Picture only)
- Star Wars: X-Wing Second Edition —TIE/rb Heavy Expansion PackCard:Target-Assist MGK-300(Picture only)
- "Republic, Rebel, and Resistance Starfighters" —Star Wars Encyclopedia(Picture only)
- Disney Gallery: The Mandalorian — "Making of Season Two"(as graffiti)
- Star Wars: Battles that Changed the Galaxy
Notes and references[]
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