CLASSIC IMAGE: WEDGE TO THE RESCUE!

He'd been elated at taking out Biggs' TIE fighter attacker, but now Luke finds himself in the crosshairs of an experienced Imperial pilot. Thankfully, Wedge delivers a surprise attack, in a classic space action moment from the original Star Wars, coming back to cinemas worldwide for the Fiftieth Anniversary.

ILM & THE OLD SCHOOL VFX OF THE ORIGINAL STAR WARS - Video & Filmmaker magazineVideo & Filmmaker magazine

'STAR WARS' AT 45: THE Y-WING FIGHTER TRENCH ATTACK RUN!

The time for the first trench run to the Death Star's thermal exhaust has begun, by the trio of pilots comprising the speedy Y-wing bomber fighters of Gold Squadron. Despite early hopes that their attack run would be uneventful and successful once past the heavy weaponry emplacements on the surface and towers, the arrival of top pilot Darth Vader and his two TIE fighter wingmen soon see the brave Rebel pilots quickly obliterated. 

Classic 1970's interview with John Dykstra:

https://www.therpf.com/forums/threads/rpf-first-look-john-dykstra-intergalactic-man-of-magic-part-1.99564/

https://www.therpf.com/forums/threads/rpf-first-look-john-dykstra-intergalactic-man-of-magic-part-2.100149/

https://www.therpf.com/forums/threads/rpf-first-look-john-dykstra-intergalactic-man-of-magic-part-3.100686/

The fighter trio would soon be in the murderous targeting sights of Darth Vader and his wingmen.

Working from Colin Cantwell's original model concept for George Lucas in 1975, the ultimate version of the Y-wing fighter seen onscreen was once again design refined and upgraded for model miniature building and filming at ILM by Joe Johnston.

The original model design by Colin Cantwell.

Conceptual work and blueprints for the refined Y-wings by Joe Johnston.

The revised Y-wing fighter model takes shape at ILM.

Unpainted models on poles.

Joe Johnston applies paint detailing and weathering to the models.

Various angles of the Y-wing for reference.

One of the original Y-wing models with the Red Squadron markings later changed to Gold.

The models gathered for filming at ILM.

Joe Johnston at various work with the models.

John Dykstra goes through a potential move for the model during ILM filming.

Joe Johnston at work on one of the fighter models.

David Jones (?) at ILM with model and trench section.

High angle shot, that may have been for either Star Wars or Return of the Jedi. If anyone can confirm which, please get in touch.

'STAR WARS' AT 45: DEATH STAR ATTACKED!

Darth Vader confers with an Imperial officer (actor/stuntman Andy Bradford) about the X-wings attack.

Thirty rebels ships, so small and so fast at evading the Death Star's turbo lasers, are causing disruption and damage to the battle station, of which Lord Darth Vader initiates ship-to-ship combat. As alarm sirens blare, TIE fighter pilots scramble to their launch stations amidst the explosions and chaos around them.

Shot towards the near end of Star Wars filming at Elstree studios in the Summer of 1976, some unused footage of the pilots rushing the corridors would ultimately end up appearing in Return of the Jedi.

Alternate unused footage of Vader and TIE pilots rushing to their ships. B/W images from the Ben Ageros Collection.

Other action shots of interior explosions and chaos...

Explosions rattle key parts of the station.

More damage as Imperial officers recover from the fighter assault.

A rotating laser cannon station soon overloads and detonates. 

'STAR WARS' AT 45: ATTACKING THE DEATH STAR!

Red Squadron's X-wing fighter diversionary attack on the Death Star surface is underway and our bold Rebel pilots, especially newcomer Red Five (Luke Skywalker), soon prove uncompromising in their adept talents for bringing fiery destruction to their chosen targets- deflection towers, heavy armament placements and other critical areas, whilst also proving difficult for the enemy to destroy, evading turbolasers thanks to their crafts' improved speed.

Avoiding the surface heavy cannons.

Zooming over the surface.

Biggs and Porkins' attack on the surface.

Luke Skywalker goes into full-on attack mode!

Prime attack spots made by Red Five.

A surface target area is destroyed by a crashed X-wing fighter in a filmed but unused sequence. The surface model was created by effects talent Mike Minor (best known for his mid seventies work on Star Trek), who worked briefly on the film, whom, for reasons not fully known, was ultimately uncredited. The pyrotechnics representing the X-wing were handled by veteran Joe Viskocil.

Unused early composite shot of X-wing speeding across the surface.

A selection of behind the scenes filming images taken at ILM during late 1976/early 1977 at Van Nuys, California....

Superb aerial composition shot of the Death Star surface.

At work on one of the many modular panels.

Various combinations to create a surface likely not seen in the finished movie. 

A panel combination forming the Death Star surface.

ILM coordinator Jim Nelson has fun by the surface panels.

Steve Gawley makes some adjustments to the panels surface configuration.

Another great surface interior image at ILM by Chris Casady.

Simulating the X-wing cockpit viewpoint of a surface attack.

Close-up model filming at ILM.

Preparing the model pyrotechnics on a wall panel surface selection.

Filming the detonation, supervised by Richard Edlund.

Company group shot outside the ILM car park.

Richard Edlund makes some preparations for filming.

A side angle detonation covered by vehicle and camera.

Alternate angle from the ILM car park.

Edlund (on crane) and with colleague detonate an explosion on the outside surface set configuration.

More outside detonations.