Blue Squadron (Rebel Alliance)

Blue Squadron was an airspeeder and starfighter squadron that served as part of the Rebel Alliance's starfighter corps during the Galactic Civil War. The squadron most notably participated in battles such as the Battle of Scarif, Blockade of Tureen VII, the Battle of Hoth and the Battle of Endor.

Battle on Scarif
"Blue Squadron, get to the surface before they close that gate"

- Admiral Raddus giving Blue Squadron their orders during the Battle of Scarif

Blue Squadron, under the command of General Antoc Merrick as Blue Leader, took part in the Battle of Scarif along with Red Squadron, Green Squadron, and Gold Squadron. Blue Squadron was expanded into a unit well beyond the usual 12 ships of the same design. It was a mix of X-wings, assigned to escort UT-60D U-wings into combat zones and, a small number of Y-wings reallocated from squadrons in neighboring sectors. Heff Tobber (Blue Eight), Calum Gram (Blue Nine), and Laren Joma (Blue Eleven with Taslet Colb as copilot and Bistan as gunner) all flew U-wings while Paril Ritta (Blue Twelve) served as a Y-wing pilot.

Blue Squadron X-wings accompanied the rest of the Alliance Fleet to the aid of Rogue One on Scarif below. Blue Squadron was tasked with penetrating the shield gate and providing air support and infantry reinforcements to Rogue One. On the approach to the shield gate, Merrick, at least six other Blue Group X-wings and Laren Joma's U-wing managed to bypass the Imperial defences and travel down toward the surface. However, the gate was shut, forcing Vangos Grek (Blue Six) and another X-wing pilot to pull up. Both were destroyed on impact with the planetary shield, but Barion Raner (Blue Four), Jaldine Gerams (Blue Three) and at least 2 other X-wings managed to avoid impact and went to assist the Rebel fleet in space above.

In the air around the Citadel, U-wings and X-wings were able to provide air support to and reinforce the troops on the ground, destroying two AT-ACTs and engaging Imperial TIE/sk x1 experimental air superiority fighters in the air. During the battle, the upper starboard engine of Merrick's T-65B was damaged by a TIE striker, causing his ship to spiral toward the ground, killing him on impact. Most, if not all, of Blue Squadron's craft were destroyed at Scarif. The squadron's decimation at Scarif and the loss of its commanding officer meant that Blue Squadron would not be present at the following climactic battle at Yavin, leaving Red and Gold Squadrons to take on that engagement.

Members

 * Blue Leader: General Antoc Merrick (KIA)
 * Blue Two: Torius Chord
 * Blue Three: Jaldine Gerams
 * Blue Four: Barion Raner
 * Blue Five: Farns Monsbee
 * Blue Six: Vangos Grek (KIA)
 * Blue Seven: Robich Duggsin
 * Blue Eight: Lieutenant Heff Tobber
 * Blue Nine: Calum Gram
 * Blue Eleven: Warrant Officer Laren Joma (KIA) and Lieutenant Taslet Colb (KIA)
 * Blue Twelve: Paril Ritta

Vrogas Vas
Later on in the war, a new version of Blue Squadron, equipped with X-wings, was stationed at the refueling base on Vrogas Vas, along with several other Starfighter squadrons when Darth Vader and the Galactic Empire attacked the planet. Unfortunately, this Blue Squadron was also obliterated almost to a man, if not completely, in the ensuing carnage, with much of the casualties being caused by Darth Vader and his TIE Advanced x1 alone.

Tureen VII
After the incident on Vrogas Vas, Blue Squadron was deployed to the stolen Imperial-class Star Destroyer Harbinger, where they were deployed during the Blockade of Tureen VII as escort for the Star Destroyer. Strangely, this particular incarnation of Blue Squadron appears to be equipped with X-wings painted in Red Squadron markings.

Battle of Hoth
Blue Squadron was also part of the Rebel force stationed on Hoth when the Empire discovered the base, launching an invasion that signaled the commencement of the Battle of Hoth. Using T-47 airspeeders, the pilots of Blue Squadron helped to defend Echo Base from All Terrain Armored Transports (AT-ATs) and All Terrain Scout Transports (AT-STs). They destroyed the AT-STs with the speeder's primary blasters and used their harpoon and tow cables to defeat the AT-ATs. This allowed three transports to escape the base.

Battle of Endor
Blue Squadron participated in the Battle of Endor above the forest moon. During the battle, Ten Numb, a male Sullustan starfighter pilot, flew a B-wing starfighter under the callsign Blue Five.


 * Blue Five: Ten Numb

Behind the scenes
Blue Squadron appears in the second season of the non-Canon LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures animated series. The squadron appeared in four of the five promotional short films designed to promote the series. Blue Squadron is led by Lieutenant Valeria, who leads the squadron into combat against the Galactic Empire in several skirmishes. In the series, Blue Squadron act as supporting characters to the Freemakers, a family of scavengers who join the Rebel Alliance.

Appearances

 * Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
 * Rogue One: A Star Wars Story novel
 * Star Wars: Rogue One: A Junior Novel
 * Star Wars Battlefront
 * Star Wars 24: The Last Flight of the Harbinger, Part IV
 * Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi