Jek Tono Porkins / Legends Jek Tono Porkins was a trader and pilot from Bestine IV who , along with the other Bestines , was forced to abandon his homeworld when the Galactic Empire chose it as the site of a new military base . Seeking the opportunity to strike back at the Empire , Porkins joined the Alliance to Restore the Republic and was assigned to Tierfon Rebel Outpost for pilot training with the Tierfon Yellow Aces . His skill at low - altitude strafing runs and his rotund physique earned him the nicknames " Belly Runner " and " Piggy . " After the completion of the Empire ' s Death Star , the Yellow Aces were taken to fully active status and transferred to fill gaps in pilot rosters at other Rebel bases . When Porkins ' s good friend Wes Janson was taken ill with a case of Hesken Fever , Porkins was given his friend ' s assignment instead and transferred to Red Squadron , operating out of the Great Temple on Yavin 4 . Porkins soon took part in his first missions with Red Squadron , working with Biggs Darklighter , Wedge Antilles , and Cesi Eirriss to help retrieve a number of astromech droids from the smuggler Nera Dantels on Commenor . The group returned to Yavin 4 just before the arrival of the Death Star in the Yavin system , on a mission to destroy the Rebel base . Porkins flew as Red Six during the Battle of Yavin , his skills at strafing aiding the Rebels early in the battle . However , when his T - 65 X - wing starfighter was struck by debris , leaving him with several mechanical and computer malfunctions , Porkins was hit by enemy turbolaser fire and killed . Biography . Early life . A native of the Bestine system , Porkins was a champion T - 16 skyhopper pilot on his homeworld of Bestine IV . During his youth , he spent many years hunting sink crab s on the world ' s rocky islands . He eventually became a free trader and had just gone into business for himself when the Galactic Empire , seeking to create a new base in that part of the galaxy , forced the Bestines from their homeworld and turned the planet into a secure base of operations . When Imperial promises of a new home turned out to be empty , the displaced natives adopted a nomadic lifestyle , wandering aimlessly through their system . The Alliance to Restore the Republic soon learned of the Bestines ' fate and offered them the chance of a new life by joining the fledgling Rebellion against the Empire . Most refused to join the Rebels , unwilling to start a life away from the Bestine system and opting instead to gather the resources they would need to retake their world . Porkins , however , knew that this would take decades and wanted to strike back at the Empire immediately . By joining the Rebel Alliance , he saw his chance to do so and hoped that he could one day persuade the Rebel leadership to help liberate his homeworld . Tierfon Yellow Aces . Porkins was initially assigned to Tierfon Rebel Outpost , serving in the Tierfon Yellow Aces . The Yellow Aces were officially a training squadron but were frequently involved in the less hazardous active combat missions , giving them combat experience . Porkins found the transition from T - 16 to BTL Y - wing and T - 65 X - wing starfighter pilot easy . He soon reached the rank of lieutenant and , in under 40 hours of combat time , achieved sixteen confirmed kills . Among those in Porkins ' s training class was a pilot named Wes Janson , with whom he worked well and became good friends . He and Janson also became acquainted with the young pilot N ' dru Suhlak , whom they gave some informal training . During his time with the Yellow Aces , Porkins acquired his astromech droid , R5 - D8 , who remained with him throughout his career . On one mission , the Yellow Aces were sent to ambush an Imperial freighter and its TIE / LN starfighter escort as they landed at a temporary Imperial staging base . The squadron flew Y - wings and was under instruction to split into two groups , with one group strafing the base and drawing away its defenses while the other attempted to disable the freighter . The first stage of the mission went well , but when the freighter arrived with a larger escort than expected , Yellow Ace member Kissek Doran panicked and broke formation . Knowing that if Doran was seen by the Imperials , the Yellow Aces would be compromised and potentially eliminated , Porkins and Janson were ordered to pursue him and attempt to bring him back . If they were unable to do so , they were authorized to shoot him down . Porkins attempted to use his own starfighter to force Doran to the ground . However , his attempts were unsuccessful and Janson was forced to open fire . His laser cannon cracked Doran ' s cockpit and he was killed by exposure to the vacuum outside . In 0 BBY , with the Alliance becoming aware of the threat posed by the Empire ' s new battlestation , the Death Star , the Yellow Aces were taken to fully active status . High - security bases were given priority for the newly active pilots and , when Red Squadron operating out of the Rebel base in the Great Temple on Yavin 4 needed pilots to fill an immediate shortage , Janson was scheduled for an emergency transfer to the Yavin system . However , when Janson was taken ill with Hesken Fever , Porkins took his place . Red Squadron . Soon after arriving on Yavin , Porkins attended a briefing by General Jan Dodonna . The Alliance was in need of additional starfighters and had recently learned of a number of X - wings at an Incom Corporation assembly facility . Dodonna outlined a plan to capture the fighters by using four TIE / LN starfighters , recently brought to the Alliance by the defecting crew of the Class II Frigate " Rand Ecliptic " , to draw the defending TIE fighters away from the nearby Imperial Security Bureau base . Once the Incom facility was undefended , the " Rand Ecliptic " would arrive to retrieve the X - wings . The mission was a success , with the Rebels capturing several of the new starfighters , though Peate Kurin was killed and Derek Klivian lost a leg during the diversionary raid . Porkins later joined Biggs Darklighter , Wedge Antilles , and Cesi Eirriss in practicing in the captured fighters . After visiting Klivian in the infirmary , the group was called back for another briefing with General Dodonna . Though the Alliance now had a supply of starfighters at Yavin 4 , they still needed astromech droids to help their pilots operate the ships . The Empire seemed to have anticipated their need and responded with strict controls over the droids , but a source had been found when Captain Nera Dantels of the " Starduster " arranged to take a shipment of R2 and R5 units to the Imperial stronghold of Commenor . Porkins , along with Darklighter , Antilles , and Eirriss , was dispatched undercover to the world to rendezvous with the smuggler . After arriving at Commenor , the Rebels landed their X - wings at the spaceport , rented a landspeeder , and headed to a local cantina , where they had been told to play a game of sabacc while waiting for Dantels . While there , they watched the latest news of the dissolution of the Imperial Senate on the HoloNet , learning of the apparent disappearance of Senator Leia Organa of Alderaan . Porkins won the sabacc game , but as they prepared to play another , Antilles received a signal from Dantels telling them to meet her at Hangar Bay 31 , and the group departed . Outside , they were met by a number of local ruffians who claimed to have chased some thieves away from the landspeeder and demanded a reward . When Porkins refused to play along , one of the gang insulted him , causing the Rebel to knee the youth in the midsection . The situation rapidly descended into a brawl , before the Rebels ended the fight by pulling their blasters and left in the speeder to head to their rendezvous . The Rebels finally met with Captain Dantels and examined the cargo of astromechs . After confirming the cargo , they arranged to meet up with her in orbit and lead the " Starduster " back to Yavin 4 . However , unknown to the Rebels , one of the street gang had followed them , leading a stormtrooper to the meeting . The stormtrooper called the Imperial base on the nearby moon of Folor to warn them of the fleeing Rebels . By the time the Rebels collected their X - wings and reached orbit , the Imperials had already dispatched TIE / LN starfighters to intercept them . Seeing the incoming fighters , Antilles and Darklighter broke formation to intercept , leaving Porkins and Eirriss to provide cover for the " Starduster " . Nevertheless , some TIEs made it through and were able to get on Porkins ' s tail . Eirriss eliminated his pursuers and Porkins soon reciprocated , but more TIEs came and attacked the " Starduster " . Though Dantels was able to shoot them off , some of the debris struck Eirriss ' s X - wing , damaging her shield generator and hyperdrive . With no time to eject before the next wave of TIEs arrived , and no way to leave the system , Eirriss set a collision course for the incoming fighters , telling her comrades to leave without her . Her X - wing was destroyed in a head - on collision with the Imperial fighters . Porkins , Antilles , and Darklighter jumped to hyperspace , leading the " Starduster " back to Yavin 4 . After landing in the Great Temple , and learning that the Death Star was already en route to Yavin to destroy the Rebel base , the Rebel pilots agreed to dedicate the destruction of the superweapon to their fallen comrade . On Porkins ' s recommendation , Yellow Ace pilot John D . Branon was selected to take the place of Eirriss for the upcoming battle . Soon after returning , Porkins met Darklighter ' s old friend , Luke Skywalker , who had himself just arrived on Yavin 4 and was also to join Red Squadron . Battle of Yavin . Soon , the Death Star arrived in the system , but the Rebels believed they had found a weakness in the battlestation . Plans provided by Leia Organa after her rescue from Imperial capture had revealed a small thermal exhaust port leading to the main reactor core . With the Death Star ' s defenses geared towards defending the station from a large - scale attack , the Rebels believed it would be possible for their starfighters to navigate down a narrow trench on the Death Star ' s surface , and fire a proton torpedo into the exhaust port , triggering a chain reaction that would destroy the station . After General Dodonna outlined the mission , the Rebel pilots prepared for battle . As the Rebels rushed to get ready for the battle , the X - wing assigned to Porkins missed its final inspection of computer and flight control systems . Porkins flew under the call sign Red Six during the Battle of Yavin . After arriving at the approaching battlestation , the Rebels initiated strafing runs in the area around the trench . Porkins ' s skill with strafing played an important part in the success of the early runs , but the Rebel fighters came under heavy fire from a turbolaser emplacement near one of the surface ' s many deflection tower s . Darklighter moved to attack the tower , telling Porkins to provide cover . The two pilots dived towards the surface , opening fire on the tower and scoring a direct hit . However , as the tower exploded , Porkins was caught by debris from the blast , causing instruments throughout his fighter to malfunction . Though his X - wing fighter was generally maneuverable enough to avoid the Death Star ' s sluggish turbolasers , incorrect readings from his instrumentation left him unable to judge his altitude and he found himself too low and an easy target for enemy fire . Darklighter attempted to warn his friend that he was too low and advised him to eject , but Porkins felt that he could control the problem . Before he was able to regain control , however , he was hit by enemy turbolaser fire and was killed as his X - wing exploded around him . Legacy . A holographic memorial to Porkins , along with the other pilots killed during the mission , was installed in the Great Temple following the battle and he was still included in the Rogue Squadron memorial as late as 5 ABY . His actions during the Battle of Yavin saw him posthumously awarded the Kenobi Medallion , a medal created specifically to remember the sacrifices of those who fought at Yavin . His Kenobi Medallion was hung with those of his comrades in the pilots ' lounge at Tierfon Rebel Base . Red Squadron survivors Luke Skywalker and Wedge Antilles later founded Rogue Squadron and , though Porkins died before Rogue Squadron ' s formation , Antilles always considered him and the other members of Red Squadron to be among the first Rogues . Rogue Squadron named one of their maneuvers Porkins ' Formation in his memory . After Antilles and Janson formed Wraith Squadron , following the New Republic ' s capture of Coruscant , they informed the Gamorrean Wraith recruit Voort saBinring that they did not see his nickname of " Piggy " as an insult — instead it was a mark of respect as the same nickname had once belonged to Porkins . Personality and traits . Porkins was a capable pilot whose experience hunting sink crabs helped him become a specialist in strafing runs during his time as a Rebel pilot . He was also a competent dogfighter , amassing an impressive number of kills in his career . His skills at strafing , together with his large physical stature , earned him the nickname " Belly Runner " . His build also earned him the nickname " Piggy " . Porkins never objected to his friends joking about his size , which he attributed to the high gravity on Bestine IV , though on at least one occasion he reacted angrily to comments from an outsider . As a heavyset man , Porkins would set his inertial compensator to full while in flight . Wedge Antilles always considered this a possible factor in his death — had his compensation been lower , he may have realized how low he was and been able to attempt to correct it before he was struck by enemy fire . Despite his unflattering nicknames , Porkins made many friends among those he served with and was seen as both brave and noble and was one of the most respected pilots in the Rebel Alliance . His good friend Wes Janson often spoke highly of him , though Janson struggled with the guilt he felt about his absence from Yavin , feeling that this had contributed to Porkins ' s death . Wedge Antilles also considered Porkins to be among the best pilots he had flown with and was deeply hurt by his death . Behind the scenes . Jek Porkins was created by George Lucas for the 1977 film , in which he was played by William Hootkins . Hootkins was originally considered to stand in for the then - humanoid Jabba the Hutt . However , after reading the script , Hootkins was unsure about the film and decided to take a different job . When his other work finished , Hootkins learned that Lucas was still seeking actors to play Rebel pilots and decided to take one of the parts . With so many roles involving heavy make - up , Hootkins initially wondered if the name Porkins might imply he was to have pig - like make - up applied and had to check with Lucas to confirm his character ' s species was Human . The Rebel pilot uniforms had been made to a standard size and Hootkins ' s costume had to be slit down the back in order to fit him , slightly exposing his T - shirt underneath . Cramped into the small cockpit for his character ' s explosive death scene , Hootkins initially thought the actors playing Death Star crewmembers had the better roles but would later consider himself lucky to have played one of the film ' s heroic Rebels . The Porkins character first appeared in Alan Dean Foster ' s of the film , in which his call sign was given as Blue Four . The original script of " A New Hope " also used the Blue Four designation , though this was later changed to Red Four . Porkins remained as Red Four until shooting when he changed once more to the final Red Six , with Branon becoming Red Four . This is the likely explanation for another pilot calling for Red Six after Porkins has been killed . In the last part of the Marvel comic adaptation of the film , " " by Roy Thomas and Howard Chaykin , Porkins was given the call sign Blue Six and was depicted as being killed by a TIE fighter after his mechanical malfunction . The nickname " Piggy " was first used in Foster ' s novel and also appeared in " Star Wars 6 " , in a panel in which Darklighter briefly mourns the death of his friend . " Star Wars 6 " was also the first source to provide the character with a first name , calling him Tono Porkins . Grant S . Boucher ' s 1989 roleplaying sourcebook " " later gave the character the first name Jek . The contradiction with the character ' s name remained unresolved until 2002 . When Josh Radke wrote the article " Wraith Squadron " for " Star Wars Gamer 9 " , he asked Abel G . Peña to see if there was anything else to add to the article . Peña suggested that they take the opportunity to resolve the two names . Previous name contradictions had been resolved by retcon ning one as a nickname , but with " Piggy " and " Belly Runner " already used as such , this was quickly ruled out . Instead , Peña suggested using Tono as the character ' s middle name . Radke agreed with the idea and the article reflected his full name as Jek Tono Porkins .