Rebel Alliance Starfighter Corps The Rebel Alliance Starfighter Corps also known as the Alliance Starfighter Corps was a starfighter unit of the Alliance to Restore the Republic . A unit made of Rebel pilot s , they participated in many major battles such as the Battle of Yavin , the Battle of Hoth and the Battle of Endor during the Galactic Civil War . It was one of the Alliance ' s greatest assets . History . Although a small , unorganized resistance against Imperial rule of the galaxy had existed since at least 19 BBY , the Starfighter Corps itself was not organized until 2 BBY . By this time , the Starfighter Corps had access to BTL - A4 Y - wing assault starfighter / bomber s , T - 65B X - wing starfighter s , T - 65C - A2 X - wings , and UT - 60D U - wing starfighter / support craft s . These classes all served in the Mission to Eadu . Shortly after the theft of the Death Star plans at Scarif , the Empire discovered the location of the Rebels ' headquarters on Yavin 4 , and deployed the massive battlestation to destroy the moon . The Rebels deployed a force of 22 X - wing starfighter s and 8 Y - wings for a desperate assault on the space station ' s reactor , which was accessible through a thermal exhaust port located at the end of the meridian trench . Despite massive casualties and fierce Imperial resistance , a young pilot named Luke Skywalker used the Force to destroy the station with a pair of proton torpedo es . Out of the initial attacking force , only 2 X - wings and a single Y - wing survived the assault . After the Battle of Yavin , the Starfighter Corps dramatically increased the size and diversity of its forces . The Alliance was able to provide Saponza ' s Gang with new starship classes including A / SF - 01 B - wing starfighter s , E - 50 Landseer s , Fang fighter s , HWK - 290 freighter s , LAAT / i gunships , RZ - 1 A - wing interceptor s , and Z - 95 Headhunter s . Within a year , the Alliance had also acquired T - 47 airspeeder s , which would see action at the Battle of Vrogas Vas with Cyan Squadron . In 3 ABY , the T - 47s would famously prove their worth at the desperate Battle of Hoth . Although mainly used for pulling cargo sleds in the area surrounding Echo Base , a number of airspeeder s served as effective atmospheric assault fighters . The resourceful pilots of Rogue Squadron used their harpoons and tow cables to tangle the legs of Imperial AT - AT walker s , and then blasted them with their laser cannons in their weakened state . Wedge Antilles employed this tactic successfully . Thane Kyrell of Corona Squadron used a different approach , slicing off a walker ' s foot pad with the sharp wing edge of his airspeeder . In 4 ABY , the Starfighter Corps struck a decisive blow to the Empire in the pivotal Battle of Endor . Under the command of General Lando Calrissian , the Corps led a desperate assault on the Death Star II . With Calrissian at the controls of the " Millennium Falcon " , the Rebels destroyed the new battlestation , while the redeemed Anakin Skywalker sacrificed his own life to destroy Darth Sidious . Later that year , the Alliance to Restore the Republic reorganized itself into the New Republic . As part of this wider change , the Rebel Alliance Starfighter Corps was reorganized into the New Republic Starfighter Corps , which continued to see action in the Galactic Civil War up to and including the Battle of Jakku .