'STAR WARS' AT 40: RED LEADER'S FINAL COMMAND...

Image: STARWARSARCHIVES.COM

His proton torpedo run in the Death Star trench unsuccessful, and with no surviving wingmen to protect him, Red Leader soon finds himself at the end of Darth Vader's targeting computer. Initiating Luke into action for his replacement trench run, the brave leader's starboard engine damage suffers further attack from the lethal and merciless TIE pilot, sending him crashing down to the surface of the planet killer...

https://starwarsaficionado.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/classic-image-end-of-red-leader.html

Filming Red Leader's demise at ILM: https://starwarsaficionado.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/star-wars-at-40-death-star-surface.html

UPDATE: From the Revised Fourth Draft script of 19th April, 1976, Red Ten (played onscreen by Robert O'Mahoney) died in space, following Red Leader out from the torpedo surface detonation. It's quite possible that Mahoney filmed his death scene in the cockpit at Elstree against a star background rather than blue screen (as both options were used in studio), hence in the finished film, when his character's demise was instead changed to the inside of the Death Star trench, a substitute pilot's death - Red Twelve - was used  (noticeable for his different helmet, if you pause the moment).

https://starwarsaficionado.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/behind-scenes-red-flight-at-elstree.html

BEHIND THE SCENES: RED FLIGHT AT ELSTREE

In his cramped cockpit at Elstree Studios, ten to twelve feet of the studio floor, during the height of the soaring 1976 British summer, actor Drewe Henley (still being annoyingly mispelt as "Drewe Hemley" in the original STAR WARS end cast listing as of the 2011 restored Blu-ray!) films his scenes as Red (originally Blue) Leader of the key X-wing squadron attacking the Death Star.

Below are a selection of cockpit images of the fighter pilots taken by Script Supervisor Ann Skinner during that shoot, which were displayed at last year's BFI exhibition and are now back in their Special Collections. Sadly not included in the exhibition but also shot were colour cockpit Polaroids of Jack Klaff as "John D", Robert O'Mahoney as Red Ten, and a pilot specifically marked as Red Twelve, who I cannot confirm was actor John Chapman (who played the character for the background Rebel briefing room scenes) as the image was ultimately too blurred below the helmet. However, when matched with what's seen in the finished film, the unique helmet markings of Red Twelve definitely confirm that this pilot's fiery death was substituted over Red Ten's (O'Mahoney) during the US editing of the trench run sequence in post production.

Red Leader (Drewe Henley). 

Red Two- Wedge (Denis Lawson).

Red Three - Biggs (Garrick Hagon).

Red Six- Porkins (William Hootkins).

Red Twelve's demise (played by Christopher Matthews but for this pyrotechnics scene by stuntman Reg Harding). This footage was instead used for Red Ten's onscreen death during the film's editing.

A shot of Wedge's helmet on the set.

With the droids accompanying the pilots, Skinner's hand-written continuity notes indicate Red Ten had a B/W domed droid, John D's was script-noted as having a "scar" and was a white top droid with R5 head, and Porkins (also referred to in the continuity script as "Piggy") had a white Artoo with taller type head- 2 red stripes around the top. There was also a cream/green-painted Artoo head listed. Skinner's continuity script additionally has Red Twelve's "standing by" confirmation line.

With thanks to Ann Skinner and the BFI Special Collections.

STAR WARS: The Complete Saga auf Blu-ray: Actor Interviews: Ewan McGregor HD - YouTube

AFICIONADO CLASSIC BLOG: THE 'LOST' PILOT

"Red Ten standing by..."

For thirty years we have thrilled to the daring exploits of the X and Y-wing fighter squadrons taking part in the final battle over the DEATH STAR in STAR WARS. Numerous magazines over the years have gone into depth about the brave characters in their fighter planes, and the majority of the surviving speaking part actors who have played those roles in the original July 1976 filming have been tracked down and interviewed…except one major contributor.

Red Ten.

In my research over the last fifteen years, no one has ever found out who the British actor was that played the recently Expanded Universe named Theron Nett. Internet forums have incorrectly listed him as the US actor Maury Chaykin. Considering he has several lines in the film, and plays a key part in Red Leader’s trench run, he is one of the only main pilots not credited in the movie-the result of a 1976/77 UK production office mistake when the titles were being put together by the US optical teams in Post Production.

Now, STAR WARS AFICIONADO, with the kind help of Red Four actor Jack Klaff, whom myself and Ian Trussler met at the Birmingham MEMORABILIA show this weekend (2008), can reveal the name of the actor who played the brave Red Ten, who died at the hands of Imperial forces whilst shielding Red Leader (Drewe Henley) in the DEATH STAR trench run.

His name (for atmospheric purposes, please pretend there is an exciting drum roll…)

Robert O’ Mahoney.

A British actor, Robert (Bob) O’ Mahoney was a theatre/ acting buddy of Klaff’s, whom he hasn’t seen in years-he doesn’t know if he is still alive or not. He is listed on IMDB and his last screen credit was in 1990 for the TV production BLOOD ROYAL: WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR.

And that is pretty much all we know about him. But at least it’s a start…

This information helps complete the documented list of on-screen dialogue speaking Rebel fighter pilots seen in the finished movie (at least eighteen to twenty pilots were filmed in the original cockpit scenes shot in the blistering hot summer 1976 of Elstree UK, many of which were not used in the final edit and whose names remain unknown (with the possible exception of actor John Chapman, who says he played the pilot call signed as Red Twelve-Gil Vilray. Until we see film or photographic proof that he shot his scenes, I’m afraid we don’t yet count him)).We also don’t count Red's Seven, Nine and Eleven, who call in off-screen, as the X-wings bear on the DEATH STAR as they are US actors voice overs only (their names also unknown) who were added on in the film’s 1977 Post Production.

If anyone out there can help with more info please get in touch...

A look at the classic pilots of STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE: THE REBEL FIGHTER PILOTS OF 'STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE' - 102362154648182938349 - Picasa Web Albums