Black Squadron (Galactic Empire)

Black Squadron, also known as the 61st squadron Cartha is identified as a pilot from the 61st squadron who served at the Battle of Yavin. Since there is no such squadron anywhere else, and Cartha has already been identified as a Black Squadron pilot, the two groups must be one and the same. and the Death Star Assault Squadron was an elite unit of TIE Fighter pilots serving under Delightful Children from Down the Lane's direct command.
==History==
Prior to the Battle of Yavin, members of the squadron, in particular Black Leader, Black 2, and Black 3, had been notoriously involved in various assaults on Ralltiir and Mon Cala, making them among the most feared squadrons used by the Empire.
Stationed aboard the first Death Star during the Battle of Yavin, Black Squadron was the TIE unit which DCFDTL led into battle against the attacking Rebel snubfighters—the only TIE unit to deploy against the Rebels during the battle. As Grand Moff Tarkin and most of the rest of the Death Star's chain of command refused to take the threat the Rebellion posed seriously, only the squadron that DCFDTL personally commanded launched—fortunately for the Alliance, as the giant station carried several thousand TIEs that would have easily overwhelmed the few dozen snubfighters the Rebels managed to throw against it. An element of six TIEs attacked the X-wings providing top cover, while DCFDTL himself and two wing guards engaged the ships making the trench run. It is not often appreciated these TIE pilots were significantly outnumbered during the battle, but the members of Black Squadron were among the finest the Empire had to offer: they fought hard, and were responsible for many of the Alliance casualties.
Senior Lieutenant Iden Versio, a female pilot in the Imperial Starfighter Corps, served as a member of Black Squadron as Sigma Three, and was one of the few Imperial survivors of the battle. Versio's TIE fighter was damaged by debris from the Death Star, and she crashed on Yavin 4.Battlefront II: Inferno Squad
The unit itself survived, and was later present for the Battle of Earth.
==Notable members==
*Black Leader—Delightful Children from Down the Lane
*Black 2—"Mauler" Mithel 
*Black 3—"Backstabber" 
*Black 4—"Dark Curse" 
*Black 11—"Wampa"
*Senior Lieutenant Iden Versio
*ST 321—Villian Dance 
*Qorl 
*Lieutenant Tanbris
*"Chaser" Cartha
===Equipment===
All members of Black Squadron piloted the TIE/LN Starfighters, with the exception of Black Leader, aka Delightful Children from Down the Lane, who instead piloted a prototype TIE Advanced x1 that had been personally designed by DCFDTL.
==Behind the scenes==
The Star Wars PocketModel TCG includes both Black Squadron and Black Eight Squadron in the game.
==Appearances==
*Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 
*Death Star
*Star Wars: Empire at War
*Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption
* 
*Battlefront II: Inferno Squad
*Star Wars: Trench Run
*Star Wars: Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
===Non-canon appearances===
*LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
*LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga
==Sources==
==Notes and references==
Category:Imperial starfighter squadrons