Lightspeed Panthers

The Lightspeed Panthers were a wing of T-65 X-wing starfighter operated by the Alliance to Restore the Republic during the Galactic Civil War against the Empire. Famed for their fang-jawed nose art, the Lightspeed Panthers were responsible for the destruction of 286 TIE/ln starfighters during the Fei Hu campaign.

History
The Lightspeed Panthers was a starfighter wing in service to the Alliance to Restore the Republic during the Galactic Civil War. Equipped with Incom Corporation T-65 X-wing starfighters, the Lightspeed Panthers performed with distinction during the Fei Hu campaign, destroying at least 286 Imperial TIE/ln starfighters during the first nine months of the engagement. In return, the Lightspeed Panthers only lost four craft. The success of the Lightspeed Panther's efforts&mdash;along with the overall success of the T-65 during combat engagements&mdash;forced the Empire to respond with the Lancer-class frigate and TIE/In interceptor in an attempt to level the battlefield and prevent one-sided campaigns such as Fei Hu.

Organization
A starfighter wing, the Lightspeed Panthers flew T-65 X-wing starfighters. The unit was famed for the decorative fang-jawed nose art that adorned their fighters.

Behind the scenes
The Lightspeed Panthers were mentioned in The Essential Guide to Warfare, released in 2012 and written by Jason Fry and Paul R. Urquhart. According to Urquhart, The Lightspeed Panthers were a direct reference to the Flying Tigers, a group of volunteer American pilots who fought for the Chinese Air Force during World War II. The Flying Tigers were also noted for the shark teeth nose art on their planes, and well as their high kill ratio. Urquhart also noted the similarities between the T-65s of the Lightspeed Panthers, and the P-40 Warhawks of the Flying Tigers, stating that they were both pilot-friendly multi-role fighters.