Some fans of Andor are wondering who Gold Squadron is near the end of the ninth episode of Season 2. General Davits Draven tells Cassian that a group named Gold Squadron would be responsible for escorting Senator Mon Mothma to Yavin at a later time after her open speech in the Senate that defied Emperor Palpatine. Star Wars fans will recognize Gold Squadron thoroughly as a pivotal squad that fought for the Rebel Alliance, but Episode 9 is the first time that many will have heard about them. Here’s what the Gold Squadron is and why they are important in the Star Wars franchise.
What is the Gold Squadron in Star Wars?
Originally headquartered on Dantooine, Gold Squadron is a group of starfighters commanded by Captain Jon “Dutch” Vander and led by General Jan Dodonna (as part of the rebellion by Senator Bail Organa).
After Cassian successfully escorts Mon Mothma to a safehouse (and his prior apartment) in Coruscant, Kleya tells him he will not be taking the Senator further to Yavin. Instead, Erskin says that there’s a ship already waiting for her and that they want her to make a speech. This ship is protected by Gold Squadron.
As an aside, those who have watched the canonical animated series Star Wars Rebels, particularly the episode “Secret Cargo,” will note that the speech Mothma delivers there is different than the one in Andor. Series creator Tony Gilroy admitted to EW that he and writer Dan Gilroy were “hijacking canon,” saying that the Senator is “rescued by the Gold Squadron and the speech that they give in the cartoon, which was a canonical show, [is on that ship.]”
However the canon for the speech is amended or clarified, Gold Squadron is still responsible for protecting Mothma in what is officially called Operation Handoff. The squad is expectedly attacked by TIE fighters, and despite trying to take a smuggler’s route, many of the rebel pilots are destroyed by an experimental TIE “Defender” ship. Fortunately, Vander and Ezra Bridger are able to destroy this Imperial ship and successfully deliver the Senator to Dantooine.
After Mothma officially creates the Alliance to Restore the Republic, the remainder of Gold Squadron transfers to Yavin 4 and are pivotal in the Battle of Scarif, the Battle of Yavin, and the Battle of Endor. It is then rolled into the New Republic Defense Force where they fight against other lingering threats by the Empire.
