One of the best aspects of the Star Wars franchise is its ability to draw inspiration from our own historical moments and innovations that helped shape the past. One fine example is the bomber squadron in the first act of The Last Jedi.
This year is the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and it's worth looking back at these war films and the real history that Rian Johnson took inspiration from. The Last Jedi's iconic ships are called the MG-100 Star Fortress SF-17 heavy bombers, which have real-world influences.
The ship during the first act of the film, was able to fly low and directly into the First Order's defensives as the Resistance attempted to flee from D'Qar. Several small fighters such as A-wings and X-Wings attempted to provide cover fire as the bombers intended to reach their target.
The Star Wars SF-17 heavy bomber shares striking similar designs and use to several Allied Force ships such as the B-17 and B-24. During World War II, the B-17 and B-24 bombers were a part of the campaign to bomb German targets and helped lead to a swifter end to the war and peace throughout the world. These ships in both our history and in Star Wars flew low and were not particularly fast. They, however, could drop a large load on targets and also required small fighter escort as seen in the film.
I think the sequence in The Last Jedi was a moving tribute to the pilots and soldiers of World War II. The turret gun that the character in the film, Paige Tico, commands had similar real world counterparts to both the B-17 and B-24 bombers. Paige, in her short time on screen, displays heroism as she is able to drop the SF-17's load of bombs, destroying the First Order Dreadnought.
Paige's sacrifice can be a perfect reminder of the sacrifice made by several pilots and engineers who flew the real thing 80 years ago. The Eighth Air Force, which was the primary squadron that initiated the bombing runs in Europe, had some of the highest causality rates of about half of the U.S. Army Air Force during the conflict just in their squadron.
Rose Tico, Paige's sister, said in The Last Jedi, "When we heard about it, my sister Paige said, 'Rose, that's a real hero. Know right from wrong, and don't run away when it gets hard." This quote represents the sacrifice of the not only the character but of so many real-life heroes that seem to have given inspiration for the scene.
Now 80 years later, The Last Jedi's opening scene featuring these bombers is a perfect way to see both the franchise's heroes and real life one's in action.