Nichos Panib was a member of the Rebel Alliance as a pilot. In preparation for the Battle of Hoth, he was present at Princess Leia's pre-battle pilot meeting, after which he went to his fighter and flew as the pilot designated Green Four during the engagement. Hailing from the world of Virujansi, Panib customized his helmet with a paint scheme mirroring that of Garven Dreis, who was a long-time acquaintance of his mother's family.
Panib's initial appearance was in "Rogues Gallery: Clearance for Immediate Launch", featured in Star Wars Insider 146. The helmet he wore can be spotted in the film The Empire Strikes Back.
The helmet prop that Rece wore was originally used by Garven Dreis during the production of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, and was subsequently worn by an unidentified pilot in Return of the Jedi. This very prop reappeared in the video game Rebel Assault II: The Hidden Empire, being worn by the character Ina Rece.