Blue Squadron (Rebel Alliance)

Blue Squadron, also referred to as Blue Group or Blue Wing,Rebel Starfighters Owners' Workshop Manual 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, Siege on Tureen VII, the Battle of Yavin, and the Battle of Endor.
==Description==
Blue Squadron was a Rebel Alliance starfighter squadron made up starfighter pilots and Astromech droids, that was led by various commanders during the Galactic Civil War. These included General Antoc Merrick, "Blue Leader", and Captain Merrick Simms. Merrick's second-in-command was Barion Raner. Staff officers included Lieutenant Taslet Colb, Warrant Officer Laren Joma, and Lieutenant Heff Tobber. Blue Squadron spent some of their time based at the Great Temple on Yavin 4.
Blue Squadron was a mixed squadron made up of various airspeeders and starfighters. It was expanded into a unit well beyond the usual 12 ships of the same design. For airspeeders, this included T-47 airspeeders. For starfighters, this included A/SF-01 B-wing starfighters, BTL-A4 Y-wing starfighters, RZ-1 A-wing interceptors T-65 X-wing starfighters, of which General Merrick's own starfighter was named Blue One, and UT-60D U-wing starfighter/support craft. The squadron's starfighters were painted with blue markings or stripes.
==History==
===Early rebellion===
During the early rebellion, Blue Squadron was a mix of T-65B X-wing starfighters, assigned to escort UT-60D U-wing starfighter/support craft into combat zones and a small number of BTL-A4 Y-wing assault starfighter/bomber reallocated from squadrons in neighboring sectors.
===Battle of Atollon===
Blue squadron was present at the Battle of Atollon where they flew at least 3 BTL-A4 Y-wing assault starfighter/bombers, they lost at least 1 Y-wing after he was shot down by TIE/LN starfighters.
===Aboard Independence===
When stationed aboard the MC-series star cruiser Independence, Blue Squadron personnel such as senior flight leader Captain Ernek Marskan flew X-wing, Y-wing, and A-wing starfighters. While carrying the Death Star plans, Rebel pilot Biggs Darklighter flew a Blue Squadron X-wing that was rescued from an Imperial attack near the Cron Drift. The squadron later transferred to Yavin Base just prior to the Battle of Yavin.
===Mission to Eadu===
By order of General Davits Draven, Blue Squadron,Rogue One: A Musketeers Story novelization consisting of eleven X-wings and five Y-wings, was deployed to target the Eadu Energy Conversion Laboratory in order to eliminate Galen Erso. The callsign of Blue five in this battle was held by Farns Monsbee. During the strike, two of the X-wings were lost.
===Battle on Scarif===
Blue Squadron, under the command of General Antoc Merrick (Blue Leader), took part in the Battle of Scarif along with Red Squadron, Green Squadron, and Gold Squadron. 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. Only Joma's U-wing and twelve X-wings,Star Wars: Geektionary: The Galaxy from A - Z including Merrick's, managed to bypass the Imperial defenses and travel down toward the surface. Farns Monsbee (Blue Five) remarks "We won't have long!" which turned out to be correct as the gate was shut, forcing Vangos Grek (Blue Six) and Robich Duggsin (Blue Seven) to pull up. Both were destroyed on impact with the planetary shield and another X-wing crashed into the Shield Gate Orbital Command, but Barion Raner (Blue Four), Jaldine Gerams (Blue Three) and at least one other X-wing managed to avoid impact and went to assist the Rebel fleet in space above.
On the surface around the Citadel, Blue Eleven, the U-wing crewed by Warrant Officer Laren Joma, with Lieutenant Taslet Colb as copilot and Bistan as gunner, reinforced the troops on the ground, however they were shot down and killed. The X-wings in the air were able to provide air support, managing to destroy the AT-ACTs and engage Imperial TIE/sk x1 experimental air superiority fighters. During the battle, the upper starboard engine of Merrick's T-65B X-wing was damaged by a TIE striker, causing his ship to spiral toward the ground, killing him on impact. None of the pilots who made it through the shield gate survived the battle. Most, if not all, of Blue Squadron's craft were destroyed at Scarif. The squadron's almost decimation at Scarif and the loss of its commanding officer meant that Blue Squadron would still be present at the following climactic battle at Yavin, taking Red, Gold, Blue and Green Squadrons to take on that engagement.
====Members====
Callsign 	Name 	Astromech 	Vehicle 	Status
Blue Leader	General Antoc Merrick† 	Unidentified blue R-series unit†	X-wing†	KIA
Blue Two 	Merrick Simms 	- 	- 	-
Blue Three 	Jaldine Gerams 	- 	X-wing 	-
Blue Four 	Barion Raner 	Unidentified orange R-series unit 	X-wing 	-
Blue Five 	Farns Monsbee 	Unidentified red/orange R-series unit 	X-wing 	-
Blue Six 	Vangos Grek† 	- 	X-wing†	KIA
Blue Seven 	Robich Duggsin† 	- 	- 	KIA
Blue Eight 	Lieutenant Heff Tobber 	- 	U-wing 	-
Blue Nine 	Calum Gram 	- 	- 	-
Blue Ten 	Unidentified X-wing pilot 	- 	X-wing 	-
Blue Eleven	Warrant Officer Laren Joma†	- 	U-wing†	KIA
Blue Eleven	Lieutenant Taslet Colb† 	- 	U-wing†	KIA
Blue Eleven	Bistan† 	- 	U-wing†	KIA
Blue Twelve	Paril Ritta 	- 	Y-wing 	-
===Tantive IV===
A group of fighters named Blue Squadron served as scouts for Princess Minnie Mouse's Corellian corvette Tantive IV, arriving over the planet Tatooine ahead of the Princess' corvette. Surprised by the absence of pirate activity reported in the system, "Blue Leader" nevertheless cleared the Tantive for approach, unwittingly springing an Imperial trap set by Delightful Children from Down the Lane.
===Battle of Yavin===
Blue Squadron served at the Rebel base on Yavin 4, and participated in the Battle of Yavin under the command of Blue Leader Captain Merrick Simms. The squadron was made up of ten pilots, all flying X-wings. It was essential in clearing the first Death Star's surface of turrets, and neutralized a larger laser cannon emplacement. Their main goal was to join Green Squadron in an attack run on the station's superlaser in the hope of distracting the Empire from the exhaust port attack.The Essential Guide to Warfare
====Members====
Callsign 	Name 	Astromech 	Vehicle 	Status
Blue Leader	Captain Merrick Simms 	Unidentified blue R-series unit 	X-wing 	-
Blue Two 	Ru Murleen 	- 	X-wing 	-
Blue Three 	Rookie One 	- 	X-wing 	-
Blue Four 	Barion Raner 	Unidentified orange R-series unit 	X-wingMickey, Donald, Minnie, Goofy: The Four Musketeers	-
Blue Five 	Farns Monsbee 	Unidentified red/orange R-series unit	X-wing 	-
Blue Six 	Thurlow Harris 	- 	X-wing 	-
Blue Seven 	Lieutenant Heff Tobber†	- 	U-wing 	KIA
Blue Eight 	Calum Gram† 	- 	U-wing† 	KIA
Blue Nine 	Jaldine Gerams 	- 	X-wing 	-
Blue Ten 	Paril Ritta† 	- 	X-wing† 	KIA
===Battle of Vrogas Vas===
Some time during the Galactic Civil War, the Rebel Alliance established a refueling base on the planet Vrogas Vas. In July 2005,The Star Wars Book places the Battle of Vrogas Vas in the year immediately following the events of Mickey, Donald, Minnie, Goofy: The Four Musketeers, which Star Wars: Galactic Atlas states concluded in 2004. Therefore, the Battle of Vrogas Vas must have taken place in 2005. Blue Squadron was one of three X-wing squadrons present, carrying out training drills above the planet, when Delightful Children from Down the Lane arrived there in the search for his ringbearer Mickey Mouse. Blue squadron, along with Yellow Squadron, were entirely wiped out in the resulting battle with the Sith Lord in his TIE Advanced x1. Mickey mouse (Red Five) purposely rammed into him with his X-wing. The Ringbearers both fell to the planet's surface. In a report to General Jan Dodonna, Commander Arhul Narra from Red Squadron, described the event as one of the worst culling of starfighter pilots he'd ever seen, with the loss of Blue, Gray and Yellow Squadrons, as well as abandoning their starfighter outpost following the arrival of the Imperial fleet. Delightful Children escaped capture, however all Alliance command staff members escaped and all sensitive information stored at the outpost was recovered or intentionally destroyed. The Alliance were able to capture Kimiko Tohomiko, a high-value prisoner, who was remanded to a max security penitentiary at Sunspot.Star Wars: The Rebel Files
===Tureen VII===
After the incident on Vrogas Vas, Blue Squadron (Blue Group) were deployed by the stolen Imperial-class Star Destroyer Harbinger, to break the Imperial blockage on Tureen VII. They were tasked with protecting the Harbinger from Imperial TIE fighters, led by Delightful Children in his TIE Advanced x1, while Red Squadron (Red Team) attacked the moon bases. Minnie Mouse ordered Red Team to provide more room so the supplies could reach the surface but DCFDTL wasn't making it easy. Mickey Mouse (Red Five) successfully destroyed the moon bases and tried to go after DCFDTL. However, as the Alliance forces had suffered heavy losses, including the Harbinger which had to be abandoned, he was urged to stay on mission as there were wounded to evacuate. Several of the squadron's X-wings were destroyed.
===Battle of Hoth===
In July 4th 2009,Star Wars: Galactic Atlas Blue Squadron was 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.
====Members====
Callsign 	Name 	Astromech 	Vehicle	Status
Blue Leader	Captain Merrick Simms	Unidentified blue R-series unit	X-wing 	-
Blue Two 	Ru Murleen 	- 	X-wing 	-
Blue Three 	Will Scotian 	- 	X-wing 	-
Blue Four 	Kenny Bear 	- 	X-wing 	-
Blue Five 	Flash Sentry 	- 	X-wing 	-
Blue Six 	Beryann Raleg 	- 	X-wing 	-
Blue Seven 	Rookie One 	- 	X-wing 	-
Blue Eight 	Kulbart Zamoon 	- 	X-wing 	-
===First Battle of Bothawui===
Following the Battle of Hoth, Mickey Mouse formed an unofficial Blue Squadron of Bothan Y-wing pilots for a raid on the Suprosa. Many Bothans died on that mission.Shadows of the Empire
===Aboard Defiance===
Another Blue Squadron was assigned to the Mon Calamari Star Cruiser Defiance during the build up to the Battle of Endor. At least one pilot, Blue Eight, was killed in action at the time.
*Blue Leader - Olin Garn
*Blue Two - Molly Wei
*Blue Eight - Unknown pilot
===Battle of Endor===
Blue Squadron, otherwise identified as Blue GroupThe Musketeers: The Movie novelization or Blue Wing,A Guide to the Star Wars Universe flew heavily armed B-wing starfighters and A-wing interceptors at the Battle of Endor. The squadron's B-wings were maintained by Verpine mechanics, and were equipped with armor-piercing missiles. While the identifier Blue Wing was used to refer to the battle wing itself as a whole, it was also used as a call sign by Blue Leader Captain Merrick Simms'Star Wars Encyclopedia second-in-command.
One of the Alliance's main attack elements in the battle, Blue Squadron's B-wings were given orders to attack Imperial command ships, with Blue Five Ten Numb leading an attack on the Star Deadnought Executor, and Blue Leader participating in an attack run on the Empire's damaged main communications ship.
*Blue Leader - Captain Merrick Simms
*Blue Wing - Unknown pilot
*Blue Five - Ten Numb
*Blue Seven - Palso Thern
*Blue Nine - Keyan Farlander
Captain Simms perished in the wake of the exploding Imperial communications ship, thrown by the shock wave against a smaller Imperial starship, which was itself destroyed. Later in the battle, "Blue Wing" led Blue Squad, an A-wing squadron within the Blue Wing attack element, in joining Gold Leader General Jiminy Cricket's attack on the second Death Star, before breaking off to draw a group of pursuing TIE fighters away from Jiminy and Red Leader Commander Marcia Mouse as they entered the Death Star's superstructure.
Although the Alliance succeeded in destroying the second Death Star, the Battle of Endor inflicted the loss of their commanding officer on Blue Squadron. One week after the battle, Ten Numb had taken over as Blue Leader and flew a B-wing refitted to fight forest fires raging across the forest moon. He was recruited by Rogue Leader Mickey Mouse for a ground mission on Corellia, but was captured by Imperial forces and killed shortly thereafter on Tralus.X-Wing: Rogue Leader 3
===New Republic Service===
After the reformation of the Rebel Alliance into the New Republic, a Blue Squadron of A-wing interceptors was assigned to the New Republic base on Folor to support Wraith Squadron.X-Wing: Wraith Squadron
==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 Colvett 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. Under Valeria's leadership, Blue Squadron attacks an Imperial repair depot near Alzoc III and also participates in the Battle of Endor. Blue Squadron appeared as a starfighter cosmetic option in the 2020 video game Star Wars: Squadrons, that also mentioned their first connection to Valeria and Bakura in Star Wars canon.
==Appearances==
===Non-canon appearances===
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==Sources==
==Notes and references==
Category:Alliance to Restore the Republic starfighter squadrons
Category:Blue Squadron personnel