181st Imperial Fighter Wing | Star Wars Legends

Across the entire Galactic Empire, few squadrons were as greatly feared as the red striped Tie Interceptors of the 181st Imperial Fighter Wing.
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Background music "Final Alliance" by Tenacious Orchestra. Used under license from PremiumBeat.com
Ending music "Battle Forever" used under license from Shutterstock.com.

[@TemplinInstitute]

Join us on Twitch, 5 hours after this video goes live where we'll be streaming some Star Wars Squadrons late into the night! www.twitch.tv/templininstitute

[@critical7401]

Wish I could. Sadly I'm in germany and it will be 2:00am when that stream starts.

[@dennishall3469]

is this still happening? Or is this delayed?

[@terrythompson1873]

The Templin Institute man I tell ya. They reaaally should have cast Colin Salmon as Soontir Fel in Star Wars in some capacity. EPIC!!

[@wolfu597]

Can you guys make a video about the 204th Fighter Wing, aka "Shadow Wing"?

[@phoenixx913]

Tie pilots were actually incredibly skilled and it should be noted that almost every single ace pilot that the rebellion had was an imperial pilot that defected.

[@deadzone4155]

Wedge Antilles being one such example

[@RockSplitter]

There are old TIE pilots, and there are bold TIE pilots. There are no old *and* bold TIE pilots.

[@leetman102]

Well you know what they say, fear an old man in a profession where people die young.

[@TheDarkstormy]

Soontir Fel does not beg to disagree, he just disagrees.

[@ianmunkyg1026]

I get the quote and reference 👍

[@ianmunkyg1026]

@DeSPoTNemanjaS Vincent from The Black Hole

[@LedosKell]

Soontir Fel, pilot of the Galactic Empire, champion of the Empire of the Hand, and grandfather of the Fel Empire. A hero of three Empires.

[@alexs1954]

Or a soldier of three armies

[@magosmarechferracioli1128]

Fel, like Pellaeon, pretty much fought for every single major warlord only to come out on top in the end. Utter lad.

[@bthsr7113]

He eventually wound up fighting for the right side, though I hear the Empire used his wife as bait to flush him out. Still, with him on Rogue Squadron, you had best believe he did some good for the Galaxy. Even got to work with his old classmate, Han Solo.

[@roguelead72]

@@bthsr7113 They tried but she had gone into hiding, Fel was hoping his brother-in-law would help find her.

[@barbiquearea]

Furthermore his descendants will end up ruling the what was left of the Empire, becoming its new emperors.

[@VegetaLF7]

This is why I will never use anything other than the red stripes for the Interceptors in Squadrons. 181st for life.

[@kenguyii9108]

The 181st Imperial Fighter Wing: The Empire's answer to Rogue Squadron!

[@goodimperial5396]

181st VS Rogue Squadron would be one of the most spectacular dogfighters ever to be seen between the Rebels/Republic and the Empire

[@fuadahmed5501]

@@goodimperial5396 Rogues would win. X Wings have shields and hyperdrive. Woujj look s be an epic battle though.

[@SimpleNobody2420]

Finally! A respectful look that the Tie Fighters.

[@bthsr7113]

Fel was an enjoy able character in the Rogue Squadron comics. Nice to see more aces who weren't force sensitive. Man turned the one hundred eighty worst in the the 181st, and later joined the rebels. Also married THE actress of his day.

[@MobiusLeader007]

The actress who was also the sister of Wedge Antilles.

[@bthsr7113]

@@MobiusLeader007 I didn't want to spoil that. There's a reason I left that twist out.

[@TheDarkstormy]

@@bthsr7113 It's out anyway, Really must have made for awkward family time.

[@roguelead72]

@@TheDarkstormy Well, Jag was named after his grandfather Jagged Antilles, and one of Wedge's kids is named Syal after his sister, and Jag married Jaina Solo.

[@TheDarkstormy]

@@roguelead72 So even more awkward family time. As the House of Skywalker is it's own warning. I mean, sure Shmi was a lovely human being, but I mean the spiders web of Imperial/Republican connections that follows her son and his children... And honestly you can't really get a bigger Imperial connection than Anakin Skywalker.

[@6killersfear4]

Whoop, Templin did Legends Star Wars. Did not think I would live to this day.

[@TheIfifi]

This isn't the first though?

[@warlord0877]

They uploaded a Star Wars video 3 days ago

[@daniellongsworth4484]

They've done others, one is on Thrawn.

[@PeterReid1993]

@@daniellongsworth4484 Thrawn is Canon now.

[@wojtek561]

@@PeterReid1993 But the story they presented is from legends.

[@Jayjay-qe6um]

"The victor will always be the judge, and the vanquished the accused."

[@15oClock]

Soontir Fel is the one fan favorite character from Legends that I can see causing the least amount of problems.

[@rustyshackle8000]

It makes me so happy they included the red stripe and mentioned the 181st in Squadrons. I would do anything to have Soontir and Jagged Fel be brought back into canon because the entire Fel storyline is one of my favorites in the EU

[@gabriel__opazo]

There's nothing that warms my heart more than a Star Wars Legends Templin video. Well, a vacation to Alderaan during the Galactic Civil War may warm it more.

[@grandadmiralzaarin4962]

Finally, justice for the second best Fighter group! Hope you do the Rogues and Wraiths!

[@ghostreader3692]

They did Rouge squadron two years ago.

[@LukeSkywalker-fm1dc]

"Pretty. What do we blow up first?" - Wraith Squadron Motto

[@TheCzarcastic]

Im so early, that George Lucas hasn't edited the original trilogy yet

[@KruberFan]

Greedo shot first

[@A_Spec]

He didn't, his wife did.

[@alois4503]

yet

[@A_Spec]

@Kato Ho Ten Soeng General Kenobi

[@TheCzarcastic]

@@A_Spec I meant his rerelease shenanigans. Also, what are you doing here? You have a galaxy to burn.

[@ParagonRex]

Baron Fel, a true legend and forefather of the Fel Empire.

[@jonmcgee6987]

Fel was also Wedge's brother in law.

[@ImperatorPenguin]

Yes! Legend Universe till the end!

[@lordsithous4406]

FOR THE EMPIRE!!

[@AnthonyAllenJr]

You get extra kudos for mentioning Jagged Fel.

[@Semper_Liberi]

Ah, legends nostalgia

[@HaldorZX]

We need a Gilead Palleon video. Greatest legends character!

[@phrophetsamgames]

Yasssss. Gillead Pellaon is iconic

[@connorgolden4]

Amen

[@DocWolph]

"You have nothing better to do than to GET BETTER and that is exactly what we are going to do."

[@48some]

Beautifull... i am So proud on the 181st. For the Emperor !

[@Alex_FRD]

This sounds like it would have been the perfect wing to focus on in Dark Squadron... if that game had ever been made.

[@MobiusLeader007]

I still lament the loss of that game...

[@MobiusLeader007]

@@michaelandreipalon359 Yes. It was going to be a game focused on the Empire. It was cancelled by Lucasfilm in favor of a game that would have starred Chewbacca. But Lucas himself struck down the idea of the Chewbacca game. So in the end neither game was made.

[@hydratanksamari]

Incredible. My favorite squadron from my childhood

[@razgriz501]

YES! Star Wars Legends! And the best Imperial Squadron too! I'm a Rebel pilot fan myself, but I love this Squint unit, and Fel is basically Imp Wedge Antillies

[@Smeghead76]

Nitpick #1: The 181st was a fighter _group,_ not a wing, as it comprised three squadrons instead of six Nitpick #2: The 181st was the Imperial equivalent of Rogue Squadron, so _of course_ they're going to be much better than the average TIE pilot 6:44 What, no mention of the fact that the first time the 181st faced someone their equal in skill at Brentaal IV, it didn't go well for them, which is how Fel ended up captured in the first place?

[@sword4005]

Soontir Fel so good as a ace pilot that even members of Rogue squadron would request transfer then fight him

[@biggsdarklighter0473]

not sure when, but fel even lost an eye, which did not lessen his skill at the flight stick. Another parallel to the red baron.

[@biggsdarklighter0473]

@@michaelandreipalon359 Richthofen got a Splinter In his Head, thus being out of the fighting for 6 months. After Surviving this head injury, he got a new plane, and shortly After that got shot by a stray bullet from the Ground in a Skirmish. The canadian Ace behind him got credited the Kill, instead of the Australian mashine gunner.

[@Zeknif1]

It's believed the previous head injury severely compromised his judgement. He violated several of his own rules on his final flight either out of lack of situational awareness, or simply disregarded them.

[@roguelead72]

Well he did train Hobie who along with Biggs Darklighter was one of the defectors that got him assigned to the 181st to begin with, and Tycho Celchu.

[@roguelead72]

@@michaelandreipalon359 Corran wasn't with the Rogues at that point, he was still partnered with Iella Wesseri in CorSec, and actually shows up in the next comic series Family Ties, if you can find the In The Empire's Service/The Making Of Baron Fel/ Family Ties comics they're good reads

[@doubleyousee72]

Love the fleshing out of the empire

[@bthsr7113]

It's easy to have phenomenal kill ratios when you actually care about pilot survivability and equip them with fighters that don't lend themselves to suicidal swarms.

[@MalfosRanger]

Getting hundreds of aerial victories at the unit level for those blood stripes requires target rich environments as well. It's no small feat in itself.

[@phrophetsamgames]

I would have loved a Yuuzhan Vong War movie trilogy.

[@Skyguy_steve]

Legends always beats the new canon

[@icantcomeupwithagoodusername24]

But not in realism like in power or other things

[@icantcomeupwithagoodusername24]

Literally some legends say some really unrealistic things like stormtrooper armor can repel artillery shells

[@CataciousAmogusevic]

@@icantcomeupwithagoodusername24 because someone being a force god without any training and casually (and accidentally!) performing one of the most difficult force powers is more ReAlIsTiC

[@CataciousAmogusevic]

@@icantcomeupwithagoodusername24 "realistic" you mean grounded?

[@michelecastellotti1884]

@@icantcomeupwithagoodusername24 jo source states that, what it states is that they repel sheapnel and can resist certain explosions, wich is then reflected in both legends and canon. canon only has the terrible tendency to ruin stormtroopers and imperials, ruining the ot as a result by taking away any form of tension, fear and worry that a person might have

[@orbaitv5991]

I can't wait to get their skin in sw squadrons

[@henrikandreason7261]

Same here. Fel won me so many battles in the x-wing tabletop game that i lost count in the end. I will always use it in honor to him and the abilities he gave my squadrons in tournaments. I wont ever be able to switch haha.

[@urbangradisek5695]

ghota kill 10 enemies to even coud think about that

[@earnestbrown6524]

Soontir Fel is my favorite unit in X Wing Miniature. I build my team around him.

[@DABViktor]

Thank you the video, and the English subtitle.

[@TemplinInstitute]

You're welcome 😊 We've been trying to keep on top of it.

[@Nails077]

Always was a big fan of the Interceptor. One of the coolest ships in Star Wars. Much cooler than the Defender.

[@biggsdarklighter0473]

But one can't deny the superior armament of the defender. Which of course does not mean it's necessarily cooler.

[@Nails077]

While you have to respect the Defender's ... eh.. defenses and other capabilities, the Interceptor is still cooler.

[@biggsdarklighter0473]

@Nobod-E don't forget the missiles, Ion-Cannons and the light tractor beam.

[@daniellongsworth4484]

An epic piece of true Star Wars history.

[@kaptainkoffee9074]

Honor for order and justice. Unfurl your wings and blacken the skies over every traitor. For the Emperor, for the Empire! Sith Pilot Warcry: Darkness take me, Emperor preserve me!

[@Ita7233]

GLORY TO THE EMPIRE

[@mingchoi8369]

Just when I thought they weren't going to do another Star Wars Squadrons related video, they release a Star Wars Legends video on the most infamous Imperial fighter unit. I wonder if the 181st will show up in Star Wars canon. Anyway, I hope you'll do more videos from the old Legends Expanded Universe.

[@generalsmite7167]

I hope fel cameos in squadrons like wedge does with the republic

[@TricksterPoi]

Amazing. It is good to know the story of one of the most infamous squadrons and telling how their origins where.

[@maciejkamil]

I like this episode, since it brings something good to evil empire, which makes legends more believable.

[@maxbrandt6]

Great story and 100% canon.

[@tlshortyshorty5810]

So the Empire has its own Spare Squadron, perhaps it’s own Trigger?

[@grisom5863]

Speaking of which, how do you think some of the top pilots of the ace combat series do in star wars?

[@MobiusLeader007]

Ah, I see you are a person of culture as well.

[@kaiseryakkovonwarner8783]

How about an Imperial version of the Yellow Squadron?

[@adrianmohora5209]

You should do about the Confederacy of Independent System in Star Wars and about their army and navy and their leaders.

[@darthjader77]

For the empire

[@MilosAndric123]

What a beautiful video! Long live 181st ! Long live the Empire!

[@KillerOrca]

Ohhh are these guys canon again? ...nope, just awesome Legends stuff. Oh well.

[@neofulcrum5013]

This was an interesting video. Glad Soontir saw reason while captured in the NR’s care.

[@epsilon7466Mk2]

It’s good to see a famous squadron get recognized. Could we look at a few others, like the 118th Tactical Fighter Wing “Mobius” , from Ace Combat, or Skull Squadron VF-84, from Robotech.

[@jaffapolice]

Fantastic, love to see some legends lore!

[@blackknight401]

Fel! Fel! Fel! Fel! Fel!

[@andrewlim9345]

Hope the Fels and the 181st will be brought back to Canon. Maybe they could appear in the post-Sequel Trilogy era as some First Order faction.

[@jediwulfric]

Dang, I have to pick up the rogue squadron books again.

[@johncaldora7150]

I think I remember hearing something about Fel's brother-in-law once. Didn't he blow up a space station or something? The Institute might want to investigate that.

[@Dan19870]

How Did I miss the upload of the 501st Legion. Templin Institute incredible as always.

[@ericmorang3903]

Soontir Fel...the Red Baron of Star Wars.

[@dreamypizza8458]

who does that make phennir werner voss?

[@phrophetsamgames]

Fel was a frickin god he turned the 180-worst into the best wing ever and then married the hottest actress of the day too lmao

[@Paerigos]

They like you human! Jagged: "I hope that not as appetizer..." Silly human! Hatchlings dont need appetizers... They are always hungry! When Jagged was evacuating a Barabel nest from Jedi Temple... I remember the TOR Forums when Apocalypse came out: "So does everyone think that Jagged Fel must the one damn luckiest bastard in the SW galaxy of all time?"

[@Paerigos]

@@michaelandreipalon359 Well by chiss standards... its bit complicated... Soontier Fel married Wedge´s sister, and they were essentialy a decorated family... but when Lowbacca and her band blew up chiss supply depot, the family becaume liable for all the damage because Jagged guaranteed Lowbaccas parole... So Jagged was exiled and had to hunt down Aleema Rhar for his family to have option to start again from nothing... but he could never return into the Ascendancy... technically, he was no longer part of any family and well as he said... technically he was no longer even Jagged Fel... And he was Twin Suns three as much as anything else. but he dropped at Jedi temple one day, asked for help (as ackwardly as a lifetime military person could... and Luke essentialy employed him, made him boss of Jaina and Zak... then Luke made him an Head of State, and when Jagged weaseled out of that (I really suggest reading Fate of the Jedi, its so much fun series) he became sniper rifle instructor in Jedi academy at Ossus. but... this actually may not be fully accurate since Empire of the Hand was somewhat independent entity and Voss Park may have been bit more lenient then Chiss and let Soontiers family in so the fall wasnt at all terrible... We actually dont know that well the releationship between Hand and Ascendancy in 30ABY+ Formbi was always cryptic about it.

[@Paerigos]

@@michaelandreipalon359 technically all of this is from Killik Trilogy, Legacy of the Force series and Fate of the Jedi series (plus the end is Crucible novel)

[@FREEK777ful]

hope we get to see a profile on Pellaeon in the future.

[@samplunkett852]

Delta leader standing by

[@j.s.5170]

Used them tons in x-wing, now it’s time for squadrons

[@citogonzalez8177]

War doesn’t determine who’s right only who’s left Remember the fallen both rebels and empire’s pilots

[@lastechocorp1841]

brilliant cant wait for more

[@yankeeman690]

No shields All guts!

[@zaneenns5903]

Yay a legends video!

[@gavin-odst_with_a_saxophon7638]

Oh I now have my next idea for a story to write

[@bropellerjohnson919]

A movie could be made just about this squadron..

[@peacekeeper1413]

Do the Fel Empire from Star Wars legends

[@Helljumper556]

Yes!!! For the Empire!

[@YetAnotherInv]

Sooo... it's the "Flying Circus 2: Electric Boogaloo"?

[@biggsdarklighter0473]

Pretty much

[@stepanmatousek8186]

Galactic Boogaloo

[@michaelsweet8397]

Very good stuff! 👨🏻‍🚀🖤

[@KEVMAN7987]

Didn't one of Fel's descendants become Emperor?

[@AkatsukiBoss13]

His son started the Fel Dynasty of the Empire.

[@johnd7828]

For the Empire

[@randomcenturion7264]

Glory to the Empire!

[@admiralterrinaldscreed2591]

FOR THE EMPIRE !!!!!!!!

[@nicholaswalsh4462]

FOR THE EMPIRE!

[@nathanielbables8652]

Ah legends the superior Canon 👌

[@biggsdarklighter0473]

If you exclude frankly absurd stuff like the Suncrusher...

[@nathanielbables8652]

@@biggsdarklighter0473 😏 lol

[@keirebu.bakure]

The Best of the Best 🩶❤️

[@damarglover6363]

Who would win in a fight them or rogue squadron both of them are in their prime

[@roguelead72]

They did go head to head in the In The Empire's Service comics, which are prequels to the X-Wing books. The Alliance too the planet , so I guess the Rogues won. But not before the 181st decimated a wing of Y-Wings, killed 2 Rogues and shot down 2 more.

[@damarglover6363]

@@roguelead72 oh wow thanks for telling me 👍

[@merafirewing6591]

​@@roguelead72 that definitely would make it perfect for the song called Aces in Exile.

[@robb3670]

How about you do a video on the NFFA from the Purge and section 31 or the Tal Shiar????

[@terrythompson1873]

Nix last comment. You got an accurate pic in there.

[@jackstecker5796]

If I was commander of a unit flying squints, and was told they wanted to reequip us with trips, I'd be all over that like white on rice, on a paper plate, with a glass of milk in a snowstorm. We get shields now? *AND* hyperdrives? And we keep the four laser cannons, and pick up two ion cannons? *AND* we get missle launchers? And it's faster and more maneuverable? And it has a modular mission packs so I can put tractor beams and other stuff in it??? Where do I sign?

[@chimeraelite]

I love myself some Imps

[@gravefox4206]

Im very shocked they added another expanded universe character Soontir Fel im very impressed.

[@rc59191]

Hope we get a video about the clone wars battle surgeons.

[@doubleaa763]

Do a vid on world of the man in the high castle

[@thecallofwarguy6538]

I dunno about yall but I actually like this new narrator. I still miss the old narrator but this new one is doing a fantastic job.

[@SlyProphet]

I'd love to see some Destiny lore. Especially before the new DLC campaign drops!

[@ggallqas7442]

Alright but imagine these guys with TIE-Defenders

[@grisom5863]

Probably slightly better than they did. Though I guess the pilots of the 181's didn't want to imagine it. 8:19

[@biggsdarklighter0473]

They refused the upgrade.

[@noahk258]

Do a video on the protectors of concord dawn please!

[@terrythompson1873]

Only complaint I’ve got is that Soontir Fel doesn’t look like Colin Salmon. That’s about it.

[@don39boo]

Baron Soontir Fel outfit.

[@RykerDavis123]

Damn imps

[@avsbes98]

Some of this sounds like Propaganda of the Rebel Scum to me...

[@stellarstrategygaming1062]

Please do an episode on the earth empire from LOK

[@phrophetsamgames]

Me: sees 181st Imperial Fighter Wing* “Oh did Disney Canon add them?” Me: sees Star Wars Legends* Also Me: Freaks the fuck out and clicks on the video right away*