ROTJ Dogfight Question

Danny Bhoy · Post by **Danny Bhoy** » 2005-03-31 02:35am

Sorry if this has been done before...

During the first dogfight scene in ROTJ (following the collision of the Rebel and Imp fighter forces), was there a bit of a blooper?

The part where Wedge says "Red 3, Red 2, pull in", and then Red 3 or Red 2 (apparently an A-Wing) says "Got him" but you can see a TIE/In closing in from behind his cockpit and then the next scene the A-Wing is clobbered by a TIE/In (just above the wing of a Mon Cal cruiser) which is rapidly in turn horsed by a Y-Wing. Then what looks like the same pilot (Red 3 or Red 2) says "Three of them coming in, 20 degrees" (to which Wedge replies "Cut to the left, I'll take the leader."). [Apologies if the quotes and recollections are a tad off, I'm going by memory here]

Basically, is the A-Wing pilot the same in both cases? In fact the A-Wing pilot looks like whathisname who kamikazied the Executor.

Incidentally, the A-Wing gubbed by the TIE/In which was then destroyed by the Y-Wing reminded me of a WWII scenario where a FW190 shoots down a Spitfire only to be done by say a Beaufighter.

BTW, what was Grey Leader driving?

Post by **Vympel** » 2005-03-31 08:58am

It seems like a blooper to me, but it can be rationalized as another A-Wing dying. I've always wondered about that too.

Grey Leader was in a Y-Wing. He was the "I'm hitttttttttttttttt!" Y-Wing that got chased by TIE Fighters and went careening into an ISD. I loved that shot.

Danny Bhoy · Post by **Danny Bhoy** » 2005-03-31 10:23am

Is it possible to assume that since none of the B-Wings followed the MF when the shield came down, that there were no B-Wing survivors by that time?

I thought that they didn't follow the MF into the DS2 superstructure because of their size/shape, but I thought in their folded config they would not be bigger than the MF. Could B-Wings have flown into the superstructure channel in either config?

And what were the relative sizes of the Rebel fighter groups vs. the TIE wings when they clashed? I got the impression from the novelisation that the TIEs were numerically superior.

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2005-03-31 10:36am

As to the B-Wing question I believe there is a line in the novelization that the entire squadron was taken out by thermonuclear fireworks that erupted near one of the stardestroyers.

Post by **Vympel** » 2005-03-31 11:14am

Stravo wrote:As to the B-Wing question I believe there is a line in the novelization that the entire squadron was taken out by thermonuclear fireworks that erupted near one of the stardestroyers.

Only that a squadron was "hit hard"- we know though that the squadrons in the ROTJ battle were multi-type- Red and Gold consisted of A-Wings, Y-Wings and X-Wings, for example. All the B-Wings weren't taken out. It just sucks we didnt' see them doing anything.

Oh for some enhancement to the ROTJ battle.

Praxis · Post by **Praxis** » 2005-03-31 12:21pm

It's possible the B-wings simply would have a hard time flying in the Death Star...

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2005-03-31 12:21pm

Since B-wings were specifically designed for destroying capital ships, it makes sense that they would have been of greater utility in the massive scrum outside, so it would make some sense if they were left behind and outside of the DS run.

Post by **Vympel** » 2005-04-01 01:53am

Yeah, the B-Wings were probably all part of either Green and Grey Group (which as we know also included X-Wings and A-Wings for sure and probably Y-Wings), only Gold and Red were tasked with destroying the DS2 in the first place.