Gold Squadron (Rebel Alliance)

"You fly your run and hit what you can."

- Credo of Gold Squadron

Gold Squadron, also referred to as Gold Group, was a starfighter squadron in the Massassi Group rebel cell, the Alliance to Restore the Republic, and eventually the New Republic. The squadron, headquartered on Yavin 4, was commanded by Captain Jon "Dutch" Vander and flew BTL-A4 Y-wing light bombers. The group fought in some of the earliest consequential battles of the Galactic Civil War.

In 2 BBY, during the early days of the rebellion against the Empire, Gold Squadron participated in Operation Handoff to ensure the safety of Senator Mon Mothma of Chandrila, who spoke out against and defected from the Empire. The operation resulted in the formation of the Rebel Alliance. Later, in 0 BBY, Gold Squadron flew in the Battle of Scarif that marked the start of the war and allowed the Alliance to capture the plans to the Death Star superweapon. Not long after, as a result of the events of Scarif, Gold Squadron fought in and was completely decimated during the Battle of Yavin, which resulted in the destruction of the Death Star.

Later in the war, a reformed Gold Squadron fought in the climactic Battle of Endor under the command of General Lando Calrissian, where they were part of the destruction of the Death Star II. Following the Alliance's victory and the reformation of the Republic, Gold Squadron became part of the New Republic Defense Fleet.

The rebellion
Gold Squadron began as a rebel cell fighting against the Galactic Empire, part of the unit led by General Jan Dodonna, which itself was part of Senator Bail Organa's larger rebellion. It was commanded by an Onderonian, Captain Jon "Dutch" Vander, flying as Gold Leader. Members of this unit flew BTL Y-wing starfighters, five of which were former Republic Navy bombers, stolen from the Imperial Reklam Station by the Phoenix Cell and delivered to Dodonna's unit in 2 BBY.

Operation Handoff
"Phoenix Leader, this is Gold Squadron. We catch you at a bad time?"

- Captain Jon Vander, to Captain Hera Syndulla

Shortly after the delivery of the Y-wing starfighters, Senator Mon Mothma was forced to flee her homeworld of Chandrila as a branded traitor after publicly denouncing the Empire. Gold Squadron took on the duty of protecting the Senator and escorting her to Dantooine, where they would rendezvous with other rebel cells. Meeting up with elements of Phoenix Group for refueling of the Senator's Taylander shuttle Chandrila Mistress, the squadron was attacked by TIE fighters and forced to jump to hyperspace. At the advice of Phoenix Leader Hera Syndulla, the rebels took the old smuggler's route through the Archeon Nebula to escape the Lothal sector undetected. However, an experimental TIE/D Defender starfighter decimated the squadron, until it was stopped by Vander and Ezra Bridger (flying as Gold Two). The remaining squadron members, Vander and the original Gold Two, then arrived safely with the Senator at Dantooine, where the Alliance to Restore the Republic would be formed.

Members

 * Gold Leader: Captain Jon "Dutch" Vander
 * Gold Two: Unidentified Y-wing pilot (briefly filled by Ezra Bridger)
 * Gold Three: Tyson (KIA)
 * Gold Four: Unidentified Y-wing pilot (KIA)
 * Gold Five: Unidentified Y-wing pilot (KIA)

Battle of Scarif
"Red and Gold Squadrons, attack formation. Defend the fleet."

- Admrial Raddus giving Red and Gold Squadrons their orders

Following the official formation of the Rebellion as a unified entity, Gold Squadron participated in the Battle of Scarif, again behind Jon Vander as Gold Leader, shortly before the Battle of Yavin. During the battle, elements of Gold Squadron conducted bombing runs on the Shield Gate that was preventing reinforcements from reaching beleaguered forces on the planet below. Gold Squadron also attacked the Imperial Star Destroyer Intimidator, disabling it with ion torpedoes. The destroyer was forced into the space station, disabling the planetary shield and allowing reinforcements to land.

Members

 * Gold Leader: Captain Jon "Dutch" Vander
 * Gold Two: Unidentified Y-Wing Pilot
 * Gold Three: Evaan Verlaine
 * Gold Four: Unidentified Y-Wing Pilot
 * Gold Five: Unidentified Y-Wing Pilot
 * Gold Six: Brace Marko
 * Gold Seven: Gazdo Woolcob
 * Gold Eight: Datchi Creel
 * Gold Nine: Wona Goban

Battle of Yavin
"Gold Squadron, begin takeoff procedure."

- A rebel technician

Under the command of Jon "Dutch" Vander, Gold Squadron's eight spaceworthy Y-wing bombers participated in the Battle of Yavin. Three Gold Squadron Y-wings, flown by Vander, Dex Tiree, and Davish Krail, were the first to make an attack run down the Death Star's meridian trench in an attempt to destroy the station's main reactor by exploiting the weakness presented by the thermal exhaust port. All three were shot down by Darth Vader in his TIE Advanced x1 before Jon Vander had the opportunity to launch proton torpedoes. While this skirmish was ongoing, all other Imperial fighters were ordered to engage the rebel ships at the magnetic perimeter. This allowed Senior Lieutenant Iden Versio the opportunity to shoot down two Y-wings, and was in the process of locking onto a third when the Death Star abruptly exploded. Evaan Verlaine was the only Y-wing pilot of Gold Squadron to survive the assault, and returned to the Rebellion's headquarters on Yavin 4 with the other survivors. Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, Wedge Antilles, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Verlaine were the only rebel survivors of the starfighter assault.

Members

 * Gold Leader: Captain Jon "Dutch" Vander (KIA)
 * Gold Two: Dex Tiree (KIA)
 * Gold Three: Evaan Verlaine
 * Gold Five: Davish "Pops" Krail (KIA)
 * Gold Seven: Gazdo Woolcob (KIA)

Battle of Endor
"Red Group. Gold Group. All fighters, follow me."

- General Lando Calrissian, to Red and Gold Squadrons

Gold Squadron participated in the Battle of Endor under the command of General Lando Calrissian. Composed of a mix of different starfighters and the Millennium Falcon, members of Gold Squadron, including Gold Nine Norra Wexley, participated in the attack on the Death Star's main reactor. When TIE fighters and Interceptors pursued them and picked off an X-wing, Calrissian ordered some of the pilots to lure some TIEs away. Wexley and two other pilots moved down one shaft, leaving Calrissian and Red Leader Wedge Antilles to get to the reactor with less TIEs on their tale. The two ships made it to their target and quickly crippled it before racing back out of the Death Star before the explosion could incinerate them.

Members

 * Gold Leader: Lando Calrissian with Nien Nunb, Blount, and Airen Cracken (Millennium Falcon)
 * Gold Four: Jake Farrell
 * Gold Nine: Norra Wexley

New Republic
Several months after the events of Endor, Gold Squadron became part of the New Republic military and took part in the war against the remnants of the Empire. The Gold Squadron pilot Wexley returned to her homeworld of Akiva to reunite with her estranged teenage son Temmin Wexley. Mother and son became involved in the rebellion on Akiva, which coincided with a secret Imperial summit on Akiva. Later, Captain Saff Melor recommended sending Gold Squadron and two light cruisers as a show of military force on Akiva. However, he was overruled by Chancellor Mon Mothma and Admiral Gial Ackbar. Wexley later won an award for her role in the uprising on Akiva and for trying to pursue Admiral Rae Sloane.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Battlefront II
 * Lost Stars
 * Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
 * Rogue One: A Star Wars Story novelization
 * Star Wars: Rogue One: A Junior Novel
 * Rogue One Adaptation 6
 * Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope
 * A New Hope: The Princess, the Scoundrel, and the Farm Boy
 * Star Wars: A New Hope junior novelization
 * Star Wars: Heroes Path
 * Battlefront II: Inferno Squad
 * Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi
 * Return of the Jedi: Beware the Power of the Dark Side!
 * Star Wars: Return of the Jedi junior novelization
 * Shattered Empire, Part I
 * Aftermath
 * Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi
 * Return of the Jedi: Beware the Power of the Dark Side!
 * Star Wars: Return of the Jedi junior novelization
 * Shattered Empire, Part I
 * Aftermath