Wookieepedia:Featured article queue/August 18, 2011

"Matchstick" was the nickname of a clone trooper pilot who served in the Republic Navy during the Clone Wars. Matchstick was the commander of the Republic's Shadow Squadron, flying under the call sign "Shadow Two." In 21 BBY, while Matchstick and Shadow Squadron were serving under the command of Jedi General Anakin Skywalker, the Confederate Subjugator-class heavy cruiser Malevolence began attacking a number of Republic fleets across the galaxy. Following the Battle of Abregado, Matchstick and Shadow Squadron accompanied Skywalker and his Padawan, Jedi Commander Ahsoka Tano, to the Bormus Testing Facility to retrieve several BTL-B Y-wing starfighters for an upcoming assault on the Malevolence.

After acquiring the starfighters, Skywalker developed a plan to destroy the Malevolence with the newly acquired bombers by ambushing the Confederate warship near the Kaliida Nebula. After being briefed about their mission aboard Skywalker's flagship, the Resolute, Matchstick and Shadow Squadron&mdash;with Skywalker in the lead&mdash;departed the Resolute and took a dangerous shortcut through the nebula to intercept the Malevolence. During the journey, Matchstick's bomber was damaged after a large neebray manta&mdash;a winged vacuumbreather nesting in the nebula&mdash;grazed his fighter's port engine, although the pilot was able to continue on with his squadron. Upon emerging from the nebula, Shadow Squadron engaged the Malevolence and the Vulture droid starfighters that it deployed. When the massive warship fired its ion pulse cannon on the squadron, Matchsticks' engines failed while attempting evasive maneuvers due to the damage inflicted by the neebray manta. Losing control of his ship, Matchstick collided with squadmate Tag's Y-wing, which killed both pilots.