Wes Janson was a pilot for the Rebel Alliance and New Republic. He served as Wedge Antilles's gunner at the Battle of Hoth. He later went on to become a key member of both Rogue Squadron, the Rebel Alliance's most elite fighter squadron; and Wraith Squadron, the New Republic's pilot/commando unit, eventually reaching the rank of at Major after years of service. Janson continued to serve the New Republic by leading a group of volunteers during the Yuuzhan Vong War.

In addition to his pilot skills, Janson was deadly with blasters and skilled at hand to hand combat. When he wasn't fighting, Janson believed in having fun today, because tomorrow might not come, and was known for his practical jokes and witticisms among his fellow pilots.


Biography
Early Galactic Civil War
"Good shot, Janson!"
―Wedge Antilles [src]
Wes Janson, a native of Taanab, originally joined the Rebel Alliance as a member of the Tierfon Yellow Aces, a Y-wing squadron in training during the early years of the Alliance. For their first mission, the Yellow Aces were tasked with ambushing an Imperial convoy carrying supplies that the Alliance needed badly. When the convoy arrived at the system, its armed escort was larger than anticipated. One pilot, Kissek Doran, was suddenly struck with panic and tried to leave the group. With the prospect of compromising the entire ambush party if he was detected by the Imperials, Wes and Jek Tono Porkins were ordered to bring him back. Since using his ion cannon would give away their position, Wes was forced to use his lasers, vaping the fleeing pilot. It was his first kill.


Wes Janson circa 0 ABY.After the Battle of Yavin, Janson joined Luke Skywalker's Rogue Squadron and served as a gunner for Wedge Antilles at the Battle of Hoth. During Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa's attempt to rescue Han Solo from the bounty hunter Boba Fett, he and Rogue Squadron based themselves on the moon of Kile. Luke's daring plan had them fighting two entire wings of TIE Fighters, plus two Imperial Star Destroyers. But in reality, they were only there to make a distraction, allowing the Millennium Falcon and the Outrider to rescue Han.

When the Imperials launched more TIE fighers, Luke was soon forced to issue a retreat. It was this moment when Wes's astromech droid suddenly took control of his X-wing. Programmed by a bribed technician, his ship began shooting at Luke's X-wing. Only with his great skills on flying and talents in the Force allowed Luke to disable Wes's rogue droid without harming him.

Later, they participated in a melee above Coruscant against Black Sun forces, which were trying to destroy the fleeing Falcon. In the end, Lord Vader's Death Squadron forced the Alliance to retreat and wound up decimating the traitorous Black Sun.

After the Battle of Endor, Janson accompanied Luke Skywalker, Tycho Celchu, Ten Numb and Wedge Antilles to Corellia and defeated Imperial General Weir. Soon after, Wedge Antilles took command of Rogue Squadron.

[edit] Wraith Squadron
"Oh, wonderful. I killed his father. He hates me. He knows how to make bombs. Come on, Wedge, how does this story end?"
―Wes Janson talking about Kell Tainer [src]

Wes Janson during the early days of the New RepublicAfter the fall of Palpatine, Wes and his good friend Hobbie left active duty and were tasked with building new starfighter units, resulting in the creation of both Corsair Squadron and Gauntlet Squadron, as well as the ill-fated Talon Squadron. When Wedge Antilles and the rest of the reformed Rogue Squadron left the New Republic to hunt down Ysanne Isard, the New Republic needed a Rogue Squadron to keep up appearances. The New Republic in turn created a temporary Rogue Squadron led by Hobbie and Wes and filled by former Rogues. After Wedge's return from Thyferra, this squadron was disbanded.

Shortly after, Wedge put Rogue Squadron under the command of Tycho Celchu and Hobbie while he and Wes formed the infamous Wraith Squadron. Wraith Squadron doubled as both a commando unit and a starfighter squadron. Wes served as Wedge's second in command of Wraith Squadron and helped select the squadron members, and served with the unit for the duration of the campaign against Warlord Zsinj. One of the great ironies of the Wraiths came to fruition when a man by the name of Kell Tainer was selected. He was the son of the late Kissek Doran and had changed his name when word reached him that his father had turned cowardly in the middle of battle. There was much angst between Wes and Kell at first, but as the campaign against Zsinj and his affiliates wore on, the two came to terms with one another.

In 13 ABY, Wedge was selected by the New Republic to be sent as an ambassador from the New Republic to Adumar. Wedge was instructed to bring along three of the New Republic's best starfighter pilots. Tycho, Hobbie and Wes were chosen to accompany Wedge. The four soon, under the designation of Red Flight, became enemies of Adumar's largest country, and helped lead a revolution to overthrow the superpower of Cartann, and create a democratic world government.[1]