Imperial Starfighter Corps

The Imperial Starfighter Corps, also known as the pilot corps, was the Starfighter Corps branch of the Imperial Navy during the reign of the Galactic Empire. It consisted of TIE fighter pilots and Imperial officers. Although the Corps was a component of the Navy, some pilots were assigned to ground operations with the Imperial Army's Air Corps.
==Organization==
===Overview===
The Imperial Starfighter Corps was the Starfighter Corps of the Galactic Empire's Imperial Navy military branch, with the Army Air Corps serving as the Starfighter Corps of the Imperial Army. It was almost entirely composed of Imperial officers and Imperial Starfighter Pilots. Its organizational military structure including fighter wings, flight groups, squadrons, and flights.Shadow Fall A full attack fighter wing was led by a wing commander and consisted of six squadrons, which included seventy-two starships that made up the full starfighter complement of an Imperial-class Star Destroyer.Star Wars: TIE Fighter Deluxe Book and Model Set A flight group consisted of at least sixteen members.Star Wars Battlefront A squadron was led by a squadron commander and consisted of twelve starships. A squadron was then composed of several flights, which were led by lieutenants.Shadow Fall
Fighter wings could serve in the role of the starfighter support unit of a Star Destroyer, and thus were subordinate to the starship's commander,Vader - Dark Visions 2 or they could serve as an autonomous military unit that was headquartered aboard a Star Destroyer, with the ship and its crew supporting the fighter wing's operations. Additionally, a single squadron within a fleet could serve as the premier military unit, with operations centered around them. One such squadron was Titan Squadron.Star Wars: Squadrons
===Rank structure===
Many military ranks were used within the Imperial Starfighter Corps, including that of general,Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire with a wing typically falling under the command of a colonel serving as a Wing Commander. High-ranking commanding officers within the wing included majors, and even a second lieutenant commander was used in at least one instance as the squadron leader. The rank of captain was subordinate to that, and was followed by first lieutenant, senior lieutenant,TIE Fighter 1 lieutenant,, and flight officer. An awarded title was Baron of the Empire, which was rarely given out. Pilots who held this honor wore red streaks on their black pilot uniforms.Star Wars: The Force Awakens: The Visual Dictionary Notable figures who were given the title were Valen Rudor, Soontir Fel, and Titan Three of Titan Squadron.Star Wars: Squadrons
==History==
The Imperial Starfighter Corps was established after the Proclamation of the New Order when the Galactic Republic transitioned into the Galactic Empire. The Republic Starfighter Corps, although organized under the Republic Navy, was seen as an independent military branch. When the Corps became the Imperial Starfighter Corps, it was fully organized under the auspices of the Imperial Navy. In the wake of the Emperor's death in the Battle of Endor, TIE fighter pilots continued to fight for the crumbling Empire, but the regime fractured into various squabbling factions. The Galactic Civil War culminated in the Battle of Jakku.
==Units==
The 181st Imperial Fighter Wing was a fighter wing within the Imperial Starfighter Corps, and ships from the unit were characterized by red strips on the wings. The 204th Imperial Fighter Wing, nicknamed "Shadow Wing," was an elite fighter wing that operated in various locations, and was predominantly headquartered in the Imperial I-class Star Destroyer Pursuer. It was led by Colonel Shakara Nuress and subsequently Colonel Soran Keize and consisted of six squadrons, including Squadron Two, Squadron Three, Squadron Four, Squadron Five, and Squadron Six. It consisted of several flights, including a flight that was led by Lieutenant Palal Seedia. Another fighter wing served as the starfighter complement of the Imperial II-class Star Destroyer Bellicose, and included Beta Squadron. Alpha Flight Group and Omega Flight Group served within the Corps, and participated in various actions during the Galactic Civil War. Another flight group was Clone Flight Squad Seven, which originally served in the Clone Wars under the Galactic Republic.
Many squadrons were part of the Corps, including Banshee Squadron from the Imperial-class Star Destroyer Solar Storm, Darth Vader's Black Squadron from the Death Star,Star Wars: On the Front Lines Delta Squadron based on Lothal,Star Wars Rebels: The Siege of Lothal a squadron that entirely defected,Alphabet Squadron Sapphire Squadron, Vixus Squadron,Battlefront: Twilight Company and Yellow Squadron.Tarkin
The Third Fleet's flagship, Star Destroyer Firedrake, deployed Squadron One and Squadron Two.Thrawn: Treason The Seventh Fleet's flagship, the modified Imperial I-class Star Destroyer Chimaera, utilized Defender Squadron One, Squadron Two, Squadron Three, Squadron Four, and Squadron Five.Thrawn: Alliances Prior to becoming the flagship of the Seventh Fleet, the Chimaera deployed Special Unit One.Thrawn
The Imperial naval group Death Squadron contained a squadron led by Commander Gradd. A TIE squadron was part of the Hunter Fleet led by Commander Ellian Zahra.Star Wars (2020) 1
Elite squadrons were deployed during the war, including Tempest Squadron, Titan Squadron, and another elite squadron.
Imperial cadet squadrons were also utilized in combat and as part of the Corps, including Carida Squadron from the Carida AcademyHan Solo - Imperial Cadet 4 and Onyx Squadron.Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition Delta Flight was a flight headquartered on the planet Ryloth.
==Vehicles and machinery==
===Overview===
As the premier Starfighter Corps of the Imperial Military, the Imperial Starfighter Corps was equipped with a various array of Imperial starfighters and craft.
===Starfighters===
Starfighters were the core of the Imperial Starfighter Corps, with such models being the Aggressive ReConnaissance-170 starfighter, the TIE fighter prototype which served as the precursor of the TIE fighter series TIE/ln space superiority starfighter. Other models were the TIE scout, TIE/sr, TIE/rc, TIE/fc, TIE/ag "Aggressor" Starfighter, TIE/ph "Phantom" Multi-Role Stealth Starfighter,Starships and Speeders and the TIE/sk "Striker" x1 experimental air superiority fighter.Star Wars: Rogue One: The Ultimate Visual Guide
===Interceptors===
The mainline interceptors included the Eta-2 Actis-class light interceptors,Lords of the Sith Alpha-3 Nimbus-class V-wing starfighter, followed by the TIE/IN interceptor, which had a crimson variant.Hidden Empire 4 More advanced classes included the TIE/d "Defender" Multi-Role Starfighter,Star Wars: Commander TIE/D Defender Elite, TIE Advanced v1, and the TIE Advanced x1.Ultimate Star Wars The TIE Avenger was inspired by developments that came after the Advanced x1's prototype.
===Heavy starfighters and bombers===
Heavy starfighters and bombers included the TIE/gt which was the precursor of theStar Wars: Complete Vehicles TIE/sa Surface Assault Bomber. The TIE/ca capital assault "Punisher" Starfighter was deployed, as was the TIE/rb "Brute" reinforcement battery heavy starfighter.
===Large craft===
The Imperial Starfighter Corps operated an arsenal of larger craft, including the VT-49 Decimator, TIE Boarding Craft,TIE Fighter Owners' Workshop Manual TIE lander,Star Wars: Complete Locations TIE/rp Reaper attack lander,Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and the TIE/sh shuttle.Pirate's Price
==Behind the scenes==
The Imperial Starfighter Corps first appeared in Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope and was identified in Star Wars Propaganda: A History of Persuasive Art in the Galaxy.
==Appearances==
===Non-canon appearances===
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==Sources==
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*Star Wars Propaganda: A History of Persuasive Art in the Galaxy 
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*Star Wars: The Rebel Files
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*Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles
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*TIE Fighter Owners' Workshop Manual
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*Star Wars: Battles that Changed the Galaxy
==Notes and references==
Category:Imperial Navy branches