List of pilots

From Battlestar Wiki, the free, open content Battlestar Galactica encyclopedia and episode guide
(Redirected from Pilots)
This list was created to keep track of Galactica's and Pegasus' current and former Viper pilots, Raptor pilots and ECOs. When mentioned-only characters are linked to a separate article, they are either repeatedly mentioned, have some significance despite not being seen or the article includes a note about their name.

Pilots are officers in the Colonial Fleet trained and qualified to operate a Viper fighter or a Raptor multipurpose vehicle.

Pilot candidates, or "nuggets," normally start training in simulators, but after the Fall of the Twelve Colonies, Galactica's nuggets went from classroom straight into live aircraft until Pegasus (with its on-board flight simulators) joined the Fleet. Once nuggets complete their basic flight and combat training, they are known as "Rooks".

A flight-qualified pilot wears basic pilot wings on the uniform's left breast. Senior-rated pilots (e.g. William Adama, Saul Tigh) wear a variation with outstretched wings.

Pilot wings are a permanently-awarded skills badge; they do not necessarily indicate active flight status, only that the wearer has successfully qualified as a pilot. Officers who have moved into non-flying positions, such as Aaron Kelly and Felix Gaeta, continue to wear them.

A flight suit, which protects a pilot during a decompression emergency, is standard apparel for all pilots.

Qualifications legend:

V - Viper pilot
R - Raptor pilot
E - Raptor ECO
O - Other craft [1]


Active[edit]

Seen[edit]

Rank Name Qualifications Last Seen (Mentioned)
Captain Karl "Helo" Agathon RE Daybreak, Part II
Captain Marcia "Showboat" Case V Razor (Someone to Watch Over Me)
Lieutenant Sharon "Athena" Agathon RO Daybreak, Part II
Lieutenant Brendan "Hot Dog" Costanza VR Daybreak, Part II
Lieutenant Paolo "Redwing" McKay V Blood on the Scales
Lieutenant Noel "Narcho" Allison V Blood on the Scales
Ensign Diana "Hardball" Seelix V The Oath
An unnamed, tattooed pilot VR A Disquiet Follows My Soul

Mentioned Only[edit]

The following pilots' names can be seen on duty rosters in the pilots' ready room or on other documents following Gaeta's Mutiny. It may thus be presumed that they are on active duty.

Rank Name Qualifications Last Mentioned
Captain George "Catman" Birch V Home, Part I (TRS: "Someone to Watch Over Me")
Lieutenant Jarrell "Fuzzy" Kief R Final Cut (TRS: "The Passage")

The following pilots have been mentioned exclusively in dialogue.

Rank Name Qualifications Last Mentioned
"Bingo" V Occupation
"Hex" V The Son Also Rises (mentioned by Dualla)
"Hotshot" V He That Believeth in Me
"Terra" V Miniseries, Night 1 (combat comm chatter during 2nd combat sortie)
"Wally" V Occupation

The following pilots' names can be seen on duty rosters in the pilots' ready room or on other documents following the second exodus. Some of these names appear on the roster as early as the first season in episodes like "Act of Contrition" and "The Hand of God".

Rank Name Qualifications Last Mentioned
Captain Ricky "Two Times" Richardson Six of One
Lieutenant Delphi "Falcon" Birch V The Passage, Behind-the-scenes photo
Lieutenant Mei "Freaker" Firelli [2] V[3] Six of One
Lieutenant Steve "Red Devil" Fleer R Six of One
Lieutenant Analy "Feline" Amante[4] V Six of One
Lieutenant River "Hiccup" Brigden[5] V Six of One
Captain John "Snitch" Burke[6] V The Passage
Lieutenant Coran "Chopper" Dix[7] V Six of One
Ars "Snicker" Kelder The Passage
Troy "Sever" Minos Six of One
Anumanda "Spender" Salas Six of One
Lieutenant Bryan "Tailgate" Smith Six of One
Lieutenant Timo "Blindspot" Talamonte[8] V From War Room chalkboard (circa Season 4), assigned to Primus Squadron.
Lieutenant Drew "Bomber" Wilson[9] V From War Room chalkboard (circa Season 4), Viper Mark VII pilot assigned to Primus Squadron.
"Brakes" V From War Room chalkboard (circa Season 4), assigned to Primus Squadron.
"Butch" Crossroads, Part II (on locker door in the Weight room [10] )
Lieutenant Keenan "Buttermilk" Van Dyk[11] V From War Room chalkboard (circa Season 4), assigned to Primus Squadron.
"Catbird" V Six of One
"Chinman" Six of One
"Digger" Six of One
"Dune" Crossroads, Part II (on locker door in the weight room[10])
"Famous" V Six of One
"Hyper" V Six of One
Ensign Seamus "Kingston" McCrae[12] V Six of One
"Ninja" V Six of One
Lieutenant Lyn "Pookie" Zook[13] V From War Room chalkboard (circa Season 4), assigned to Primus Squadron.
"Rash" Collaborators (on locker door)
"Rocket" Six of One
Lieutenant Chac "Ruins" Choben[14] V From War Room chalkboard (circa Season 4), assigned to Primus Squadron.
"Sharky" Six of One
"Sniper" V Six of One
"Space-Katt" V Six of One
"Stinger" V Six of One
"Snaps" Six of One
"Thumper" V Six of One
"Toothbrush" Six of One
Lieutenant Jose "Trip" Montero V From War Room chalkboard (circa Season 4), assigned to Primus Squadron.

Inactive[edit]

Rank Name Qualifications
Rear Admiral William "Husker" Adama VR
Colonel Saul Tigh Unknown[15]
Major (ret.) Lee "Apollo" Adama VRO
Captain Aaron Kelly Unknown, junior flight status indicated by junior flight wings on uniform.
Lieutenant (ret.) Daniel "Bulldog" Novacek VO
Junior Lieutenant/Ensign "Shooter" Unknown, junior flight status indicated by junior flight wings on uniform.

Deceased[edit]

Seen[edit]

Rank Name Qualifications Death
Rear Admiral Helena Cain Unknown, senior flight status indicated by senior flight wings on uniform. Resurrection Ship, Part II (Murder)
Commander Jack Fisk Unknown, senior flight status indicated by senior flight wings on uniform. Black Market (Murder)
Colonel Jurgen Belzen Unknown, senior flight status indicated by senior flight wings on uniform. Razor (Execution)
Major Jackson "Dipper" Spencer V Miniseries, Night 1 (KIA)
Captain Louanne "Kat" Katraine VR The Passage (Radiation poisoning)
Captain Kara "Starbuck" Thrace VRO Maelstrom/Daybreak, Part II (KIA / Vanished)
Lieutenant "Jolly" Anders V Miniseries, Night 1 (KIA)
Lieutenant Cohen "Karma" Baker R Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I (KIA)
Lieutenant Richard "Buster" Bayer R The Captain's Hand (KIA)
Lieutenant Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson RE Daybreak, Part II (KIA)
Lieutenant Hamish "Skulls" McCall RE Daybreak, Part II (KIA)
Lieutenant Alex "Crashdown" Quartararo E Fragged (Fratricide)
Jr. Lieutenant (ret.) Tucker "Duck" Clellan V Occupation (Suicide)
Jr. Lieutenant (ret.) Nora Farmer V The Resistance, Episode 4 (Assault)
Jr. Lieutenant Jay "Shark" Finnegan R The Face of the Enemy (Murder)
Jr. Lieutenant Felix Gaeta Unknown, junior flight status indicated by junior flight wings on uniform.[16] Blood on the Scales (Execution)
Jr. Lieutenant Eammon "Gonzo" Pike VR Sine Qua Non/The Hub (KIA)
Jr. Lieutenant Dwight "Flat Top" Saunders R Act of Contrition (Accident)
(former) Jr. Lieutenant Sharon "Boomer" Valerii RO Daybreak, Part II (KIA)
Ensign Samuel "Longshot" Anders V Daybreak, Part II (Suicide)
Ensign Brent "BB" Baxton V Scar (KIA)
Ensign Joseph "Jo-Jo" Clark V Scar (KIA)
Ensign "Easy" Esrin R The Face of the Enemy (Murder)
"Stepchild" V The Hand of God (KIA)
Sergeant Donald "Chuckles" Perry V The Hand of God (KIA)
Lyla "Shark" Ellway E The Captain's Hand (KIA)
Lieutenant "S. "Flyboy" Irvine" V Valley of Darkness (KIA)
"Fireball" V The Hand of God (KIA)

Mentioned Only[edit]

Rank Name Qualifications Death
"Cartwheel" R Daybreak (KIA)
"Sandman" V Sine Qua Non (KIA)
"Tough Guy" R Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I (KIA)
"Carousel" E Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I (KIA)
Reilly V Scar (KIA)
"Beano" V Scar (KIA)
"Sheppard" KIA (mentioned by Kara Thrace in "Scar")
Captain Theo "Dash" Oberon V KIA (mentioned by Kara Thrace in "Scar")
Captain Branuelle "Puppet" Bronte[17] V KIA (mentioned by Kara Thrace in "Scar")

Unnamed[edit]

Status Unknown after New Caprica[edit]

These characters have not been seen or mentioned since the settlement of New Caprica, during which many military personnel mustered out of the service. As such, it is not known if they are still on active duty.

Seen[edit]

Rank Name Qualifications Last Seen (Mentioned)
Captain Cole "Stinger" Taylor VR Resurrection Ship, Part I (seen)

The Captain's Hand (mentioned)

Lieutenant Joe "Hammerhead" Palladino V Final Cut
Lieutenant Emmitt "Sweetness" Jones R Home, Part I
"Stubbs" R The Hand of God

Mentioned Only[edit]

The following mentioned-only characters have been identified by name. They may be identical with any of the mentioned-only characters identified by call sign, listed below.

Rank Name Qualifications Last Mentioned
Lieutenant Mueller Home, Part I (by William Adama)
Lieutenant Olin Perry Home, Part I (by Saul Tigh)
Lieutenant Simes V Fragged (by Saul Tigh)


The following mentioned-only characters have been identified by callsign. They may be identical with any of the mentioned-only characters identified by name, listed above. All the pilots listed for "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I" are part of the rescue mission to Caprica and identify themselves during the wireless check-in prior to the first jump.

Rank Name Qualifications Last Mentioned
Headcase R Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I
Swordsman R Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I
Anvil R Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I
Chinstrap R Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I
Gumball R Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I
Raw Meat R Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I
Toyon R Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I
Strakus R Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I
Playboy R Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I
Polo R Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I
Casey R Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I
Adonis R Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I
Gully Man R Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I
Star Cloud R Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I
Callan R Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I
Snake V Scar
Crash Scar (on locker door in the head)
Bubba Scar (on locker door)
Flash Scar (on locker door)
Spooky Scar (on locker door)
Nuke Scar (on locker door)
Rebel Scar (on locker door)
Lieutenant Ronald "Sonny" French V Black Market (on locker door in the weight room)

This is a nod to producer Ron E. French.

Rock Star V Resurrection Ship, Part I
Whiplash VR Pegasus
Thumper VR Pegasus
Grayshirt V Final Cut, later seen on War Room chalkboard (circa Season 4), assigned to Primus Squadron.
Lieutenant T "Ranger" Rogers R Fragged (on Raptor name plate)
Honey Bear V The Hand of God (on roster[18])
Moe V The Hand of God (on roster[18])
Guy R The Hand of God (on roster[18])
Frosty R The Hand of God (on roster [18])
Bobo V The Hand of God (on roster)
Bash V The Hand of God (on roster)
Hooper V The Hand of God (on roster)
Bambit V The Hand of God (on roster)
Jackson V The Hand of God (on roster)
Spinner V The Hand of God
Lieutenant Oein "Deadbolt" Parker V The Hand of God
Buzzer V The Hand of God
Beehive V Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down
Joker V Act of Contrition (on roster)
Greenback V Act of Contrition (on roster)
Thumper Bastille Day (on roster)
Ice Cap V 33 (on roster)
T-Bone V 33 (Part of Apollo's squadron, deleted scene)
Wedge V 33 (Part of Apollo's squadron, deleted scene)
Winger V 33 (Part of Apollo's squadron, deleted scene)


Status Unknown[edit]

This is a listing of pilots and callsigns derived from the nameplates that were auctioned off. These nameplates were either used on the Vipers in the background or made for the production, and thus may or may never have been seen on-screen. Their status has been presently identified as "unknown."

Rank Name Source Note
Lieutenant Becca "Beetle" Andrewson Nameplate from Official Battlestar Props Auction Viper Mark II pilot.
Lieutenant Rosemary "Dinger" Bell Nameplate from Official Battlestar Props Auction Viper Mark VII pilot.
Lieutenant Jacob "Slick" Calabos Nameplate from Official Battlestar Props Auction Viper Mark II pilot.
Lieutenant Kirk "Spiceman" Donner Nameplate from Official Battlestar Props Auction Viper Mark II pilot.
Lieutenant Brooks "Scary" Garner Nameplate from Official Battlestar Props Auction Viper Mark VII pilot.
Ensign Oliver "Stig" Gittes Nameplate from Official Battlestar Props Auction Viper Mark VII pilot.
Lieutenant Paz "Silverstep" Huang Nameplate from Official Battlestar Props Auction Viper Mark VII pilot.
Lieutenant Shirley "Lefty" Ingot Nameplate from Official Battlestar Props Auction Viper Mark VII pilot.
Ensign Breyon "Singer" Jaskaran Nameplate from Official Battlestar Props Auction Viper Mark VII pilot.
Lieutenant John "Bones" Lavell Nameplate from Official Battlestar Props Auction Viper Mark II pilot.
Lieutenant Cody "Flea" Mandrake Nameplate from Official Battlestar Props Auction Viper Mark VII pilot.
Lieutenant Clay "Flim-Flam" McKenzie Nameplate from Official Battlestar Props Auction Viper Mark VII pilot.
Lieutenant Erika "Creeper" Merchantele Nameplate from Official Battlestar Props Auction Viper Mark II pilot.
Lieutenant Cole "Doom" Metzger Nameplate from Official Battlestar Props Auction Viper Mark VII pilot.
Lieutenant Melinda "Akbar" Montes Nameplate from Official Battlestar Props Auction Viper Mark VII pilot.
Ensign Emma "Greybill" Munroe Nameplate from Official Battlestar Props Auction Viper Mark II pilot.
Ensign Kraner "Sleeper" O'Kane Nameplate from Official Battlestar Props Auction Viper Mark VII pilot.
Lieutenant Frank "I-Zyk" Pooley Nameplate from Official Battlestar Props Auction Viper Mark II pilot.
Lieutenant Liz "Kitty-Kat" Riedel Nameplate from Official Battlestar Props Auction Viper Mark VII pilot.

Homages to real persons[edit]

The following pilots are homages to people working on the show or related to its production. Since they may only exist in behind-the-scenes photos and not featured on screen, they don't necessarily exist within the show's continuity.

Rank Name Source Note
Admiral Ronald D. "Caveman" Moore Behind-the-scenes photo A reference to show runner Ronald D. Moore.
Captain Kevin "Silent" Smith Behind-the-scenes photo This is an homage to actor, director and writer Kevin Smith, who was considered to direct an episode of the fourth season.

Non-Canon[edit]

This is a list of names of pilots who have been identified as not being in the series canon, based on the following conditions:

  1. The name is derived from a nameplate that was production made, and;
  2. The name directly contradicts known, established canon.
Rank Name Source Note
Lieutenant Gwen "Red Devil" Fleer Nameplate auctioned off during the Official Battlestar Props and Costumes Auction. A nameplate likely made for Steve Fleer, who shares the same callsign, last name, and rank. Nameplate was likely made before production changes rendered it obsolete.

References[edit]

  1. IE: The Colonial Stealthstar, Blackbird, Cylon Raider, or Cylon Heavy Raider.
  2. Firelli appears in the episode "Pegasus," appearing to fulfill the role of tactical officer. It is possible that, after Pegasus's destruction, he switches roles from CIC to fight duty.
  3. Role as Viper pilot derived from Official Battlestar Galactica Props & Costumes Auction Archive listing for Lt. Mei "Freaker" Firelli's nameplate.
  4. Name and rank from Official Battlestar Galactica Props & Costumes Auction Archive listing for Lt. Analy 'Feline" Amante's nameplate.
  5. Name and rank from Official Battlestar Galactica Props & Costumes Auction Archive listing for Lt. River "Hiccup" Brigden's nameplate.
  6. Name and rank from Official Battlestar Galactica Props & Costumes Auction Archive listing for Captain John "Snitch" Burke's nameplate.
  7. In "Unfinished Business," Dix's name appears on the blackboard keeping track of the boxers. It is implied that he is the person fighting Sergeant Omar Fischer. Further, his name, rank, and Viper qualification are derived from his Viper nameplate that was auctioned off.
  8. Name and rank from Official Battlestar Galactica Props & Costumes Auction Archive listing for Lt. Timo "Blindspot" Talamonte's nameplate.
  9. Name and rank from Official Battlestar Galactica Props & Costumes Auction Archive listing for Lt. Drew "Bomber" Wilson's nameplate.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Butch and Dune's callsigns can first be seen on the locker doors in "Kobol's Last Gleaming, Part I". It is likely that their names are on the lockers in all other appearances of the weight room as well (such as "Scar" and "Torn") even though they cannot be seen on screen. The last confirmed sighting is in "Crossroads, Part II".
  11. Name and rank from Official Battlestar Galactica Props & Costumes Auction Archive listing for Lt. Keenan "Buttermilk" Van Dyk's nameplate.
  12. Name and rank from Official Battlestar Galactica Props & Costumes Auction Archive listing for Ens. Seamus "Kingston" McCrae's nameplate.
  13. Name and rank from Official Battlestar Galactica Props & Costumes Auction Archive listing for Lt. Lyn "Pookie" Zook's nameplate.
  14. Name and rank from Official Battlestar Galactica Props & Costumes Auction Archive listing for Lt. Chac "Ruins" Choben's nameplate.
  15. As Tigh's military record was falsified by John Cavil, Tigh's "life" as a Colonial begins after the First Cylon War and approximately 20 years before the Fall of the Twelve Colonies. Therefore, Tigh's actual flight ability is unknown.
  16. Note: In the Miniseries, Gaeta does not have flight wings on his uniform, but when the show went to series, the character is given flight wings from "33" and onward.
  17. Name and rank from Official Battlestar Galactica Props & Costumes Auction Archive listing for Capt. Branuelle "Puppet" Bronte's nameplate.
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 See Image:Situation Room pilot board.jpg for the roster seen in "The Hand of God". Another column of the roster can be seen around time index 35:00 behind Baltar.