The Raid on Kile II was a significant engagement that occurred during the Galactic Civil War, specifically in the year 1 ABY. This engagement involved an assault by Rogue Squadron on the Imperial Enclave situated on Kile II. The operation was masterminded by Kasan Moor, a former Imperial pilot who had switched allegiances to the Rebellion during the Liberation of Gerrard V. The pilots of Rogue Squadron, commanded by the renowned Commander Luke Skywalker, who famously destroyed the Empire's Death Star I, utilized Y-wing starfighters, each carrying twenty proton bombs. The primary targets for their bombing runs were three key areas of the Imperial base: a spaceport city, stormtrooper living quarters, and a sensor complex.
The Empire experienced substantial losses in this attack, leading to a weakening of their control over the local sector. The Rebellion only suffered the loss of two pilots during the battle. However, the retreating Imperial forces managed to capture one of the downed pilots, Wedge Antilles, and transported him off-world to the Imperial penal colony on Kessel. Given Antilles' value as a pilot and his close relationship with Commander Skywalker, a subsequent operation was launched against Kessel with the goal of liberating Antilles and other prisoners of war.
Subsequent to the Battle of Corellia, which saw a high-ranking Imperial officer, Crix Madine, defect to the Alliance to Restore the Republic, the Alliance orchestrated an operation aimed at wresting control of Gerrard V from the Empire. During this conflict, an Imperial pilot named Kasan Moor surrendered to the pilots of the Alliance's Gold Squadron. Following the battle, Moor provided the Alliance with valuable intelligence regarding the Empire's operational bases, which facilitated guerrilla attacks on the Jade Moon and Balmorra.
Due to the success of these attacks, Madine authorized a large-scale offensive against the Imperial Enclave on Kile II. The Alliance focused their efforts on a large spaceport city on the planet, which also housed a significant sensor array and several stormtrooper barracks. Madine deployed Rogue Squadron, led by Luke Skywalker, who were equipped with BTL Y-wing starfighters carrying proton bombs.
Rogue Squadron's approach to the Imperial enclave was through a nearby canyon, where their presence was detected by the Imperials. As the Rogues reached a split in the canyon, they were ambushed by waves of TIE/LN starfighters, causing the squadron to scatter. Despite the slow speed of their Y-wings, the Rebel pilots were able to overcome the Imperial ambush, successfully destroying the Imperial spaceport, troop barracks, and sensor array.
During the engagement, a sudden influx of Imperial reinforcements caught Rogue wingmates Wedge Antilles and Rogue Seven by surprise, leading to the destruction of their Y-wings, along with a third unidentified Y-wing behind them. Antilles managed to survive the crash and was captured by the Imperial forces, who retreated with him. The Imperials suffered at least 65 casualties during the battle.
The Alliance's operation significantly hampered Imperial operations in the sector and was another successful mission planned by Kasan Moor. Following the battle, Commander Skywalker decided to organize a mission to rescue his friend and fellow pilot, Wedge Antilles, from Imperial imprisonment on Kessel.
The Rogue Squadron attack on the Kile II spaceport is featured in "Assault on Kile II", the eighth level of the Nintendo 64 and PC game Star Wars: Rogue Squadron. The player assumes the role of Luke Skywalker during this mission. To achieve the highest ranking (a gold medal), the player must ensure the survival of all friendly units (although Rogue Seven and Wedge Antilles are scripted to be shot down), complete the mission in under six minutes, and destroy at least sixty-five enemy units.
The order in which the three sectors of the Imperial base were destroyed is not specified in the canonical narrative. However, in the game, if the player attacks the troop garrisons and sensor array before the spaceport, an Imperial Lambda-class T-4a shuttle will descend into the canyon to assess the damage before flying into the airport, effectively guiding players through the canyon network.
The identity of the pilot using the callsign "Rogue Seven" during the battle is not explicitly stated. While Imperial defector Kasan Moor typically uses this callsign, it is suggested that Rogue Seven was killed by Imperial forces before Wedge was shot down. A third Y-wing is seen being shot down at the start of the cutscene.