Page 24 - Star Wars Insider #175

ON THE FRONT LINES

REAL-LIFE
HEROES

Numerous war veterans
have worked on the
Star Wars movies, both
in front of the camera
and behind it.

Iconic Star Wars concept artist Ralph
McQuarrie served in the U.S. Army
during the Korean War (1950–1953)
and was lucky to survive being shot
in the head.
Gary Kurtz, producer of A New
Hope and The Empire Strikes Back,
served in the U.S. Marine Corps from
1966 to 1969, during the height of
the Vietnam War (1955–1975).
Peter Cushing (Governor Tarkin)
joined Britain’s morale-boosting
ENSA (Entertainments National
Service Association) in 1942, after The Landing at Point Rain
being turned down for active service
in World War II owing to a childhood
sporting injury.
Anakin Skywalker, Ahsoka Tano, Key moment: Anakin’s run

During World War II, the late Sir Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Ki-Adi- across the battlefield is an act
Christopher Lee (Count Dooku) Mundi led a landing party of of peerless bravery. Geonosian
served in Britain’s Home Guard as a clone troopers in this daring gun emplacements rain down
youth volunteer before joining the

Royal Air Force (RAF) and serving as assault on a separatist droid heavy fire upon him, but he
an intelligence offi cer, achieving the factory on the planet Geonosis. heads straight for them!
rank of fl ight lieutenant.
Gil Taylor, the cinematographer on
A New Hope, served throughout
World War II as an offi cer in the Royal
Air Force Volunteer Reserve. His The Battle
work included fi lming aerial footage of Yavin
of bomb damage caused by the RAF.
Alan Hume, director of photography The struggle to
on Return of the Jedi, served in
Britain’s Royal Navy during World stop the Empire
War II, as part the Fleet Air Arm’s from destroying
photographic unit. the rebel base
on Yavin 4 was a
Irvin Kershner, director of The
Empire Strikes Back, was stationed celebrated victory
in the U.K. during World War II. He for the rebels. It
served for three years with the U.S. saw a fleet of small

Eighth Air Force, becoming a fl ight

engineer on B-24 bombers. starfighters take on
the Death Star—
Bob Anderson, the fencing and win!
instructor on the original trilogy who
also performed stunt work as Darth
Vader, joined Britain’s Royal Marines Key moment: Han
before the outbreak of World War Solo’s change of
II and served in the Mediterranean heart sees the
during the confl ict.
Millennium Falcon
Sir Alec Guinness (Obi-Wan Kenobi) join the fray out of
served in the Royal Navy Volunteer nowhere, catching
Reserve during World War II. He was
commissioned as an offi cer in 1942 Darth Vader off
and commanded a landing craft as guard and giving
part of the Allied invasion of Sicily Luke the chance he
in 1943.
needs to destroy
the Death Star.

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