A - wing starfighter A - wing starfighters were a type of starfighter . During the Early rebellion against the Galactic Empire and the Galactic Civil War , the Alliance to Restore the Republic and the New Republic used the RZ - 1 A - wing interceptor . Approximately thirty years later , a different and upgraded variation of the A - wing , the RZ - 2 A - wing starfighter , was used by the Resistance during the First Order – Resistance war . History . Early rebellion . In the early rebellion against the Galactic Empire , A - wings were the craft of choice for numerous rebel cells . They were typically flown in stock configuration , complete with shielding and heavy weapons launchers . Among the A - wing ' s many operators , the most notable in this time period was Phoenix Squadron , a group that engaged the Empire ' s forces in a 2 - year campaign until being obliterated at the Battle of Atollon . Raada . At least a few A - wings were engaged in combat operations as early as 18 BBY . Bail Organa ' s forces operated at least eight of these fighters , and deployed them to assist an uprising on Raada . The entire population of Raada was evacuated as a result of the uprising , and Ahsoka Tano joined the rebellion as a Fulcrum agent in its aftermath . Lothal . In 4 BBY , Darth Vader launched an attack on Phoenix Squadron , decimating their contingent of A - wings . Out of eight fighters deployed , six fell victim to the Sith Lord ' s guns . Vader also destroyed the Phoenix Cell ' s flagship , " Phoenix Home " , forcing the rebel fleet to retreat into hyperspace . Ibaar . At least five A - wings saw action in a rebel attempt to break the Blockade of Ibaar . The rebels successfully broke the blockade and delivered relief supplies to the Eesh Fahm ' s network . A single A - wing was destroyed in action . Deep Space . In 3 BBY , Imperial ships engaged in a battle with Phoenix Squadron in deep space . The rebels emerged victorious , but the A - wing piloted by Phoenix Three was destroyed by TIE fighters . Garel . Five of Phoenix Squadron ' s A - wings saw action in a battle on Garel , during which the Imperial Military forced the cell to abandon its hideouts on the planet . Only a single Taylander shuttle was destroyed , and no A - wings were lost . Ryloth and Return to Deep Space . Two of Phoenix Squadron ' s A - wings were deployed in a mission to Ryloth , in which they were tasked with firing on a TIE / sa bomber . The bomber was actually operated by the rebels , and they planned to use it to board and hijack an Imperial " Quasar Fire " - class cruiser carrier . The Imperial crew took the bait and allowed the shuttle into the carrier ' s hangar , and the A - wings jumped into hyperspace when the Imperials returned fire . The mission ended with the hijacking of the carrier and the destruction of an " Arquitens " - class light cruiser . Later , two A - wings were scrambled to defend against an attack on Phoenix Squadron . The attack was a tactical victory for the Imperials , but a strategic victory for the rebellion , as the Phoenix Cell successfully relocated to Chopper Base shortly afterwards . No A - wings were confirmed lost in the attack . Yarma . In 2 BBY , four of Phoenix Squadron ' s A - wings battled Imperial forces after the Spectres successfully completed a mission to Reklam Station . The rebels captured five Y - wing starfighter s and destroyed Reklam Station , and no A - wings were lost . Teralov . The six A - wings of Green Squadron were all destroyed in a massacre near Teralov . This particularly brutal , one - sided battle finally convinced Wedge Antilles and Derek Klivian to join the rebelion . Mykapo . Two A - wings of Phoenix Squadron saw action in a skirmish over Mykapo . As a result of this action , Iron Squadron joined the rebellion after successfully evacuating the system . Atollon . Many of Phoenix Squadron ' s A - wings saw action at the Battle of Atollon , a decisive Imperial tactical victory . Chopper Base was destroyed , the rebels ' planned attack on Lothal had to be postponed , and the remains of Phoenix Cell were forced to relocate to Yavin 4 . All but four of the rebels ' A - wings were destroyed in the battle . Galactic Civil War . After the small - scale rebellion proved inconclusive at toppling the Empire , the Alliance to Restore the Republic escalated the conflict into open warfare that Battle of Scarif . This battle in 0 BBY marked the beginning of the 5 - year Galactic Civil War . > Most A - wings in Rebel service at this time were stripped of their shields and heavy weapons launchers in favor of increased speed and agility in combat . Tatooine . Sometime between 0 ABY and 3 ABY , Rebel A - wings assisted Saponza ' s Gang in the Battle for Tatooine , which liberated the planet from Imperial control . Endor . In 4 ABY , A - wings participated in the Battle of Endor with numerous units in Blade , Green and Red squadrons . Sterdic IV . 17 days after the Battle of Endor , Green Squadron ' s A - wings participated in the Battle of Cawa City on the planet Sterdic IV . The battle was a Rebel victory and resulted in the liberation of the city . Fondor . A - wings were deployed in the Battle of Fondor , a crushing Rebel defeat that saw the loss of many starfighters . The battle resulted in Imperial forces securing climate disruption array s necessary for . Akiva . A few months after the Battle of Endor , New Republic A - wings were deployed to assist a local rebellion on Akiva . The rebellion resulted in the capture of high - level Imperial personnel , the rescue of Captain Wedge Antilles , and the liberation of Akiva . Shortly thereafter , Akiva became the first world in the Outer Rim Territories to be admitted to the New Republic . Return to Fondor . In 5 ABY , at least 1 A - wing participated in the Battle of Fondor Shipyards , serving in Shepherd Squadron . Jakku . A - wings served with Phoenix , Green , and Shepherd Squadrons in the Battle of Jakku , the final battle of the Galactic Civil War . Cold war . At the conclusion of the Galactic Civil War , the New Republic entered an uneasy peace with the Imperial remnants . By 28 ABY , however , a cold war was brewing between a paramilitary Resistance sponsored by the Republic , and an Imperial successor state known as the First Order . By 34 ABY this conflict had escalated significantly , and the now ancient A - wings were pressed into Resistance service . Ovanis . In 34 ABY , Black Squadron embarked on a mission to Ovanis with the aim of locating Lor San Tekka and enlisting his assistance to find the missing Jedi Master Luke Skywalker . A single A - wing participated in the mission , which eventually devolved into a dogfight between Black Squadron and First Order forces . The engagement ended in a draw , with a few TIEs being destroyed but no Black Squadron casualties . Death of L ' ulo L ' ampar . In a battle over a desert planet , A - wing pilot L ' ulo L ' ampar ' s fighter was destroyed in a 3 - sided battle with the Ranc gang and the First Order . Mamkoda and Sheh Soahi . Resistance RZ - 2 A - wing starfighter s saw action at the Battle of Mamkoda . The battle ended in a Resistance victory , with a pirate spaceport destroyed by a group of MG - 100 StarFortress SF - 17 bomber s . Later , a similar battle took place at Sheh Soahi . First Order - Resistance War . In 34 ABY , the cold war between the Resistance and First Order escalated into open warfare . RZ - 2 A - wings saw service in the opening stages of the conflict . D ' Qar . RZ - 2 A - wings carried out escort duty at the Evacuation of D ' Qar , providing fighter cover for Resistance bombers tasked with destroying the " Mandator IV " - class Siege Dreadnought " Fulminatrix " . The Dreadnought was destroyed , at the expense of the entire bombing fleet and a single A - wing piloted by Zizi Tlo . Oetchi system . All of the Resistance ' s starfighters were destroyed by the First Order in an attack on the Resistance fleet , just after the fleet exited hyperspace in the Oetchi system Behind the scenes . The A - wing series of starfighters first appeared in , during the climatic Battle of Endor .