Skull Squadron Skull Squadron was a squadron of Fang fighter s flown by Journeyman Protector s who assisted the Galactic Republic during the Clone Wars . In the final months of the war , Skull Squadron was led by Skull Leader Fenn Rau , who commanded the Mandalorian squadron in the Third Battle of Mygeeto . During the battle , Jedi General Depa Billaba and Padawan Caleb Dume had been trapped by Separatist battle droid s , and Rau led Skull Squadron to save their lives . Over fifteen years later , Dume , under the name " Kanan Jarrus , " met Rau on the third moon of Concord Dawn , and he offered to return the favor . Description . Overview . Skull Squadron was comprised of at least nine Journeyman Protector s , ancient Mandalorian warriors who served the ruler of Mandalore . The pilot s of Skull Squadron were trained by Fenn Rau , the squadron ' s commander who held the callsign of " Skull Leader . " During the Clone Wars , Skull Squadron served the Galactic Republic , and when the Clone Wars ended and the Galactic Empire occupied Mandalore , Skull Squadron and the Protectors became Imperial allies , establishing a camp on the third moon of Concord Dawn . Equipment . Skull Squadron consisted of nine Fang fighter s , starfighter s crafted specifically for combat . The starfighters were armed with wing - mounted laser cannon s and a hidden proton torpedo port , and the Fang fighters ' pivoting wings allowed for more maneuverability than other starfighters . These traits gave the pilots of Skull Squadron a distinct advantage in battle . In addition to the nine Fang fighters , Skull Squadron had reserve starfighters . The Fang fighters of Skull Squadron were decorated with a white and blue pattern of forked stripes , and the pilots wore matching flight suit s and helmets . As Skull Leader , Rau ' s Fang fighter was decorated with a unique chevron pattern , and his flight helmet featured a red , stylized skull on the brow . History . Clone Wars . In the final months of the Clone Wars , Skull Squadron assisted the Galactic Republic during the Third Battle of Mygeeto , a campaign to liberate the war - torn planet from the forces of the Confederacy of Independent Systems . Jedi General Depa Billaba and her battalion of clone trooper s were tasked with clearing the Southern Mesas of all battle droid s , so she , along with Padawan Caleb Dume , Clone Captain " Styles , " and the young clone trooper CT - 1157 made their way through the Separatist forces . However , the four became stranded when the bridges of the mesa they traversed were destroyed , and they could not be extracted for an estimated two minutes . As they were quickly overwhelmed by dozens of B1 battle droid s , Rau , leading three other members of Skull Squadron , eliminated the droid threat , repeatedly flying into the Separatist fire to cover the Jedi . After two minutes of fighting , the droids were defeated , and Skull Squadron left as Clone Commander CC - 10 / 994 arrived with reinforcements . Dume wished to meet Rau in person to thank him , but he never received the chance . Age of the Empire . At the end of the Clone Wars in 19 BBY , the proclamation of the New Order saw the Republic ' s reorganization into the Galactic Empire . With the Imperial occupation of Mandalore , Skull Squadron and the Journeyman Protectors established a camp on the third moon of Concord Dawn , and they formed an alignment with the Empire . The war ' s end also saw the destruction of the Jedi Order , although Dume managed to escape the slaughter , assuming the name " Kanan Jarrus . " Over fifteen years later , in 3 BBY , the rebellion against the Empire underwent a mission to the Concord Dawn system , hoping to secure a hyperspace route and become allied with the Protectors . When a rebel group led by Hera Syndulla entered the star system , they were met by Rau and two of his fighters . Rau refused Syndulla ' s offer , and Skull Squadron began firing upon the rebel RZ - 1 A - wing interceptor s . In the battle , Rau and Skull Squadron suffered a single casualty , while they destroyed three of the five rebel starfighters , also critically damaging Syndulla ' s , before she jumped to hyperspace . The other rebel survivor , Mandalorian Sabine Wren , informed the rebellion that the Protectors were led by Rau . When Jarrus — who had joined the rebels — heard Rau ' s name , he suggested a plan to infiltrate the Protector ' s camp . Jarrus and Wren entered the camp , and while the former Jedi went to meet Rau , Wren planted explosives on the parked Fang fighters of Skull Squadron . When Jarrus finally met Rau , he recounted how Skull Squadron had saved his life on Mygeeto . Jarrus then repeated Syndulla ' s offer , but Rau stated that his actions with Skull Squadron had been reckless , again turning the deal down . Before Jarrus could leave , Wren ' s presence was announced , and she invoked the Mandalorian code , challenging Rau ' s authority . In the subsequent duel , Wren disarmed Rau , and she detonated the explosives , destroying several starfighters . Rau retreated to his still - intact Fang fighter , and he fled from the base as his men engaged the two rebels . Jarrus and Wren were able to escape the fight , and they pursued Rau . The rebels caught the Protector leader , and they took him as a prisoner . One of Rau ' s subordinates offered to assemble the reserve starfighters , but Rau stated that there was no need . Fearing an Imperial lock down on the system , Rau also ordered his men to not speak about the rebel presence and grant passage to rebel starships . Members . A legendary and respected veteran of the Clone Wars , Rau trained the pilots of Skull Squadron , and he also served as a flight instructor for the Grand Army of the Republic . Rau believed that many Mandalorians , such as the members of Death Watch , had forgotten their honor and obligations , but he felt that the members of Skull Squadron still demonstrated those duties . Behind the scenes . Skull Squadron first appeared in " " , a comic book written by Greg Weisman , penciled by Pepe Larraz , and published by Marvel Comics . The comic was released on January 27 , 2016 in conjunction with " The Protector of Concord Dawn , " an episode in the second season of " Star Wars Rebels " which featured Kanan Jarrus meeting Fenn Rau . Although the Fang fighters seen in " The Protector of Concord Dawn " are not explicitly identified , " " states that Rau was still operating as Skull Leader , implying that the starfighters are Skull Squadron .