May be the first ILM Y-Wing filming miniature completed. This was carried overseas after Joe Johnston painted it. See left photo. Was used to make the full size set version. Never seen onscreen. Was later completed.
The Battle of Yavin
Under the command of Jon "Dutch" Vander, Gold Squadron's eight spaceworthy Y-wing bombers participated in the Battle of Yavin. A flight of three Gold Squadron Y-wings, flown by Vander, Dex Tiree, and Davish Krail, were the first to make an attack run down the Death Star's meridian trench; with their targeting computers recalibrated for fast approach and precision release, this flight would attempt to destroy the station's main reactor by exploiting the weakness presented by the thermal exhaust port. All three were shot down by Darth Vader in his TIE Advanced x1 before flight lead Jon Vander had the opportunity to launch proton torpedoes. While this skirmish was ongoing, all other Imperial fighters were ordered to engage the rebel ships at the magnetic perimeter; Imperial Senior Lieutenant Iden Versio shot down two Y-wings, and was in the process of locking onto a third when the Death Star abruptly exploded. Evaan Verlaine was the only Y-wing pilot of Gold Squadron to survive the assault, and returned to the Rebellion's headquarters on Yavin 4 with the other survivors. Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, Wedge Antilles, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Verlaine were the only rebel survivors of the starfighter assault.
Members
- Gold Leader: Captain Jon "Dutch" Vander (KIA)
Gold Two: Dex Tiree and Sparks (KIA)
Gold Three: Lieutenant Evaan Verlaine
Gold Five: Davish "Pops" Krail (KIA)
Gold Seven: Gazdo Woolcob (KIA)
Unidentified Y-wing pilot (KIA)
Unidentified Y-wing pilot (KIA)
Unidentified Y-wing pilot (KIA)