A fighter wing of the Empire originating from the Bellicose
An organizational unit of starfighters is what a fighter wing was, and it was employed by various fleets and navies; it also went by the names attack wing or flight wing.
A military formation consisting of starfighters was called a fighter wing, sometimes referred to as an attack wing or flight wing. Different fleets and navies made use of fighter wings. Eli Vanto learned after studying Imperial Military history that the presence of one or two fighter wings in close-quarters combat could determine whether a battle ended in victory or ruin. The wing commander was the common title for the officer in charge of a fighter wing.
While it was still in operation, the Alliance to Restore the Republic made use of fighter wings, which could be based out of a military installation and led by a wing commander. Sometimes, large squadrons were also called wings.
During its existence, the Confederacy of Independent Systems' military forces employed fighter wings, which they called flight wings. After production was ramped up, Hyena-class Droid Bombers of the Separatists were sent to flight wings all over the galaxy.
The First Order incorporated fighter wings into their military. Resurgent-class Star Destroyers of the First Order were outfitted with two fighter wings, each made up of TIE/fo space superiority fighters, TIE/sf space superiority fighters, and TIE/se Bombers.
Within the Galactic Empire, a complete attack wing was made up of six squadrons, totaling 72 ships, usually consisting of 48 TIE/ln space superiority starfighters, 12 TIE/sa bombers, and 12 TIE/in interceptors. The number of fighter wings that capital ships of the Empire carried as part of their complement varied. A single complete attack wing was carried by Imperial-class Star Destroyers. Serving as a carrier, the Secutor-class Star Destroyer carried two fighter wings to augment its capabilities. One fighter wing was assigned to Imperial escort carriers.
The ship's commanding officer was in charge of the fighter wing when it was a part of the ship's complement. Fighter wings functioned as a component of a planetary defense force. In addition, Imperial fighter wings could function as separate military units with headquarters on a starship, rather than just serving as the ship's complement. A colonel led these fighter wings, with assistance from a major. A wing commander was the title given to the commander of a fighter wing within the Empire.
The Galactic Republic's fighter wings varied in size; one fighter wing, for example, could have 120 starfighters, while four fighter wings could have 400. Venator-class Star Destroyers were capable of carrying four entire fighter wings. One fighter wing, with a maximum of 120 starfighters but typically ninety-six, was carried by the Maelstrom-class battle cruiser. The commanding officers of fighter wings were wing commanders.
The New Republic and the Resistance both employed the Nebulon-C escort frigate, which was capable of carrying one fighter wing. The commanding officers of fighter wings in the New Republic and the Resistance were referred to as wing commander or wing leader. Commander Wyl Lark commanded a New Republic fighter wing made up of Flare Squadron, Hail Squadron, and Wild Squadron that was based on the Star Destroyer Deliverance.
Fighter wings were used by the Vak Combine, a government located in the Unknown Regions of the galaxy. The Chiss Ascendancy, another group in the area, was aware of the military formation.
The Republic Navy and the Confederacy navy both used fighter wings at the start of the Clone Wars between the Galactic Republic and the Separatist Alliance. Each Venator-class Star Destroyers was outfitted with four fighter wings, which they made use of for the duration of their service. The Separatists saw how well their Hyena-class bombers performed early in the war, after the Battle of Christophsis, and decided to increase production. Soon after, Hyena-class bombers started turning up in Separatist flight wings all throughout the galaxy. During the Battle of Lola Sayu, Jedi Generals Adi Gallia and Kit Fisto served as Wing Commanders, commanding starfighter forces belonging to a Republic task force that engaged the Separatist defense fleet protecting Lola Sayu.
Admiral Ar'alani of the Chiss noted that a few wings of Vak fighters were not as provocative as full-class warships and that they did not want to escalate the conflict, concurrently with the Clone Wars and shortly before a battle between the Chiss Ascendancy and the Vak Combine and the Lioaoin Regime over Primea.
During the Imperial Era, which saw the rise of rebel activity and the Galactic Civil War, fighter wings were deployed by both the Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance. On Cymoon 1, a full regiment and a system battle group in orbit worked together to protect the vital Imperial Weapons Factory Alpha with a large number of fighter wings. However, the effectiveness was diminished due to communication breakdowns between the units as a result of the varying number of ad hoc groups. Each Imperial Star Destroyer was equipped with one fighter wing, and one fighter wing was stationed on the Imperial II-class Star Destroyer Bellicose. Beta Squadron was a part of the ship's complement, the fighter wing. The entire fighter wing was lost due to the ship's commander, Tylux's, recklessness, but the Bellicose was soon destroyed as well. Darth Vader destroyed the Rebel Alliance's Amber Wing, which was stationed at the Rebel Refueling Base during the Battle of Vrogas Vas. A great number of fighter wings fought in the Battle of Mako-Ta as members of Death Squadron. Imperial forces were defeated during the Battle of Ab Dalis, despite the Ultima II's launch of a fighter wing.
The Galactic Empire deployed the 181st Imperial Fighter Wing, which was well-known for the red stripes that embellished their fighters. Other Imperial squadrons were inspired to use similar designs by this menacing display. The renowned elite 204th Imperial Fighter Wing, also known as "Shadow Wing," was another unit. Colonel Shakara Nuress was in charge of the 204th. It was made up of Squadron Two, Squadron Three, Squadron Four, Squadron Five, Squadron Six, and yet another squadron. The New Republic hunted the 204th following the Battle of Endor because it was seen as a serious threat to Republic operations.
Commander Poe Dameron served as a wing commander during the New Republic Era and the Cold War that followed the Galactic Civil War, when the New Republic made use of fighter wings. The Resistance, a private military organization with ties to the dissolved Rebel Alliance and the New Republic, also held the position of wing commander, and one of its ships, the Anodyne, was equipped with a fighter wing. Conversely, the First Order also made use of fighter wings, with two serving as the complement of their Resurgent-class Battlecruisers.