Red Five (T-65B X-wing starfighter)
During the Galactic Civil War, the Rebel pilots who flew X-wing starfighters sometimes went by the name Red Five, and their ships were given the designation AA-589. In the Battle of Scarif, Cadet Pedrin Gaul piloted an X-wing also known as Red Five and used that callsign, but he met his end when he was shot down by TIE/ln space superiority starfighters. The designation achieved its greatest fame, however, when Luke Skywalker began using it in the Battle of Yavin. After the victory at Yavin, the name "Red Five" became inextricably linked to the specific X-wing fighter flown by Skywalker.
History
Battle of Yavin
Subsequent to the Rescue of Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker and R2-D2 piloted a T-65B X-wing starfighter that was identified as Red Five during the Battle of Yavin. Although Darth Vader's TIE Advanced x1 damaged R2 (he was later repaired), Skywalker was able to use the Force to destroy the Galactic Empire's superweapon, known as the Death Star. Following this significant battle, his designation as Red Five became strongly associated with the actual starship Skywalker piloted.
Stopping Leia Organa
When Princess Leia Organa and Evaan Verlaine embarked on an unauthorized mission aimed at saving the remaining Alderaanians who had survived The Disaster, Skywalker attempted to intercept her using Red Five, but his efforts were unsuccessful.
Vrogas Vas
Skywalker then piloted a different X-wing, still bearing the name and callsign Red Five, but with a distinct paint scheme, during the Battle of Vrogas Vas. During the battle, he intentionally collided with Vader's craft to shift the focus of the conflict towards the planet's surface. Han Solo rescued Skywalker aboard the Millennium Falcon, forcing Skywalker to abandon his X-wing.
Hoth and Dagobah
Later on, Luke returned to using his more recognizable X-wing, which he had previously flown. It was present on Hoth while Luke commanded Rogue Squadron, and after the Battle of Hoth, he took it to Dagobah for training by Yoda. After landing in water, Red Five sank into one of Dagobah's swamps. Despite this setback, Yoda instructed Luke in the ways of the Force and later encouraged him to use his developing abilities to pull the X-wing out of the swamp. While Luke was unable to lift the starfighter, Yoda demonstrated his immense power by doing so himself, despite his advanced age.
Bespin
Against the wishes of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda, who wanted him to complete his training, Luke flew the X-wing to Cloud City on Bespin. Following his duel with Vader and subsequent rescue by Lando Calrissian and Organa aboard the Millennium Falcon, Red Five was seemingly left behind on Cloud City. However, the trio later retrieved Luke's ship during a subsequent mission to the mining colony.
Searching for a Jedi
After recovering Red Five from Cloud City, Skywalker decided to delay rejoining the Rebel fleet to embark on a search for a woman he had been seeing in visions. His journey led him to a planet called Serelia. There, he encountered a woman named Verla, whom Skywalker believed to be a Jedi.
Following his adventure on Serelia, Skywalker traveled in Red Five to Tempes, where he discovered a new yellow-bladed lightsaber and engaged in a duel with the spirit of the Grand Inquisitor, who was forced by Vader to guard the outpost for eternity. Skywalker managed to defeat him and escape before Vader's arrival.
Return to Tatooine
Later, Skywalker piloted Red Five to Tatooine to rescue Han Solo, after which he flew the starfighter back to Dagobah to continue his training.
Pillio
After the Battle of Endor, Skywalker journeyed to the planet Pillio in Red Five, where he encountered Del Meeko, a member of Inferno Squad.
Rescuing Grogu
Around 9 ABY, Skywalker utilized it to board Gideon's light cruiser during the rescue of Grogu.
Transporting Grogu
At a later time, Grogu chose to yield to attachments and abandon his Jedi training with Skywalker in order to return to his Mandalorian friend and adoptive father, Din Djarin. Skywalker had R2-D2 pilot Grogu in Red Five to Tatooine, ensuring his safe delivery to the Mandalorian.
Ahch-To and return to service
Following the destruction of his Jedi temple, Luke entered a period of self-imposed exile, seeking the First Jedi Temple. He took Red Five to Ahch-To, submerging it in the ocean beneath Temple Island.
A year after her initial visit, Rey returned to the island, also in self-imposed exile, intentionally crashing Kylo Ren's TIE whisper. However, she was encouraged by Skywalker's Force spirit to confront the resurrected Darth Sidious, her grandfather. After Luke's spirit raised Red Five from the water, Rey repaired the ship and flew to Exegol using a Sith wayfinder to confront the Sith Lord. En route, Rey transmitted Red Five's tracking beacon to the Resistance base on Ajan Kloss, enabling them to trace her path to the planet. This allowed the Resistance to launch an attack on the Sith world. Ultimately, Red Five survived the battle.
Behind the scenes
Red Five made its debut in the 1977 film, Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, the inaugural installment of the Star Wars original trilogy. It subsequently appeared in the 1980 film, Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back, and the 1983 film, Star Wars: Episode VI Return of the Jedi.
For the sequel trilogy, the 2017 film, Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi, depicts Red Five submerged in the ocean of Ahch-To. However, Red Five reappears in the 2019 film, Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker. The decision to resurrect Red Five in the ninth film was influenced by the scene in The Empire Strikes Back where Luke is unable to raise his X-wing from Dagobah's swamp. When The Last Jedi showcased the X-wing underwater, it was determined that Luke should lift it with the Force in the subsequent film, completing the narrative arc.
Continuity
The Battle of Yavin sequence in A New Hope contains several continuity inconsistencies, many of which were introduced by the new computer-generated shots added to The Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition. In the shot of the starfighters approaching the Death Star, Red Five features two red stripes on the trailing edge of the S-foils. In some later shots, the same area displays either three or five stripes. Similar continuity errors can also be found in the main Star Wars comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi: The Visual Dictionary initially stated that Red Five was rendered inoperable after being submerged in the waters of Ahch-To. One of its S-foils is even visible as the door to Luke's hut in the film itself. However, in Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker, Luke's Force ghost raises Red Five from the water, and Rey flies it to Exegol. The film's novelization addresses this discrepancy by explaining that Rey spent additional time on Ahch-To repairing the ship, including reattaching the wing and scavenging shield paneling from the TIE whisper wreckage.
The 2023 publication Star Wars: Dawn of Rebellion: The Visual Guide incorrectly identified the vehicle as a T-65C-A2 X-wing starfighter, whereas most sources, including Ultimate Star Wars, New Edition and "Grounded," identify the vehicle as a T-65B.