[[Image:ViperWepsSchool_AoC.JPG|thumb|right|2nd Raptor Squadron and Viper Weapons School crests ([[Act of Contrition]]).]]
Numerous squadron insignia<ref>
*This is a reference to the use of now-commonplace shoulder sleeve unit insignia [http://www.army.mil/symbols/uniformtraditions3.html popularized in armed services such as the U.S. Army] as early as 1918.
* It is possible that some of these insignia actually belong to larger units, such as [[w:Wing (air force unit)|wings]], which are composed of several squadrons in turn (with 12-24 planes each). In many real-world air forces wings have own insignia and names, but no evidence exists as to whether the [[Colonial Fleet (RDM)|Colonial Fleet]] is structured in the same way. Since the [[Raptor]] patch is labeled "Fighter Squadron 10", Battlestar Wiki chooses to treat all of them as squadrons. There is also a "7th Raptor Squadron - Battleaxe" patch.
</ref> are visible on the walls of the pilots' [[Pilot ready rooms|ready room]] on [[Galactica (RDM)|''Galactica'']]. The squadrons can contain both [[Viper (RDM)|Viper]] and [[Raptor]] pilots, which comprise its ''air wing'',<ref>Admiral [[Helena Cain]] in "[[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]" uses the term in context: "I'm going to integrate the crews. And I'm starting by reassigning Captain Adama to the ''Pegasus'' air wing."</ref> the sum of all Viper squadrons, [[Raptor]]s and [[Refueling tanker|support ships]] assigned to a [[battlestar]].

An air wing is commanded by the battlestar's senior pilot, the [[CAG|Commander, Air Group]], or "CAG". The term air group is only used in the title of the CAG, as in practice the Viper and Raptor force is called "air wing" ([[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]) <ref>The term "air group" is technically obsolete in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy as air groups are now known as ''air wings''. While the senior pilot title is officially ''Commander, Air Wing'' (CAW), the term of "CAG" is still used informally as a portmanteau. ''Battlestar Galactica'' reflects the same informality.</ref>.

Squadrons are purely organizational in nature and probably also a matter of generating ''esprit de corps'' (positive morale) in a group of pilots. In combat, Viper squadrons are color-coded (for example, [[Blue Squadron (RDM)|Blue Squadron]] and [[Red Squadron (RDM)|Red Squadron]]). Since these designations are used for different units at various points, they are very likely [[wireless]] code names that are assigned on an ad-hoc basis as needed for each mission.

An organizational chart in the episode "[[The Passage]]" shows that ''Galactica'' operates four squadrons with 10 to 16 pilots each. Each squadron seems to have a mix of Viper and Raptor pilots <ref>It is unknown how accurately the writers follow this chart. Flight operations depicted in other episodes might differ from it in details. For example both Kat and Helo lead [[Blue Squadron (RDM)|Blue Squadron/Blue Team]] some time, but are shown to be in different squadrons on the chart. Since the names are on magnetic cards, the roster may also be in flux from an in-universe point of view.</ref>. The known squadron leaders at that time are [[Kara Thrace]], [[Louanne Katraine]] and [[Ricky Richardson]]. After Starbuck is [[Maelstrom|presumed dead]], [[Helo]] seems to rise to squadron leader as well ([[The Son Also Rises]]).

== Known Squadrons ==

Not all squadrons listed in this article are in active service. This is supported by the low number of Vipers on ''Galactica'', as well as the [[Galactica Museum|availability]] of a single [[hangar deck]] and [[flight pod]] for missions. Together with the low number of pilots, this makes it probable that many squadron patches shown represent those that served on ''Galactica'' in its past, but have since been assigned elsewhere or disbanded. This is likely the case with Primus squadron, which served in the first [[Cylon War]] and whose patches might have been kept for historical or nostalgic reasons. Squadron 2 was a Raptor squadron that served in the first Cylon War ([[Razor Flashbacks#Episode 1|Razor Flashbacks, Episode 1]]).

The squadron patches are numbered in sequence beginning with 1 (Primus). The exception is the Viper Weapons School patch, a golden version of the standard Viper patch.

Known squadron names are:
*Fighter Squadron 1 Primus
*Fighter Squadron 3 Vigilantes
*Fighter Squadron 4 Demons
*Fighter Squadron 6 Vampires
*Raptor Squadron 7 Battleaxe
*Fighter Squadron 9 Headhunters

Of note, the standard Raptor patch is labeled "Fighter Squadron 10 Raptors".
<div style="clear: both;"></div>
=== Primus ===
[[Image:Primusphoto.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The Primus patch is visible in this old photo of William Adama.]]
'''Primus''' is the name of ''Galactica's'' 1st Viper Squadron.

[[William Adama]] was a member of this fighter group, in addition to other pilots from the [[Cylon War]] era such as [[Raymond Lai]]. The logo of this group is adorned prominently on the nose of many restored [[Viper Mark II]] fighters that were to occupy the [[Galactica Museum]].

A photo of a younger William Adama and his two boys, [[Zak Adama|Zak]] and [[Lee Adama|Lee]], shows the Primus logo on his jumpsuit and his old fighter, [[Viper 7242]].

=== Vigilantes ===

[[Image:Vigil Mini.JPG|thumb|Vigilantes squadron crest in Colonel Tigh's quarters ([[Miniseries]]).]]

The Vigilantes, 3rd Viper Squadron, is a long-established unit in the Colonial Fleet before the [[Fall of the Twelve Colonies|Cylon attack]]. Given that the squadron's logo adorns a wall in the quarters of Colonel [[Saul Tigh|Tigh]] (a commanding officer long removed from pilot service), it is likely that Tigh served as a member of the Vigilantes as a Viper pilot in the first Cylon War.

Captain [[Kara Thrace]] is a member of the Vigilantes ([[Act of Contrition]]).

[[Jackson Spencer]], the former [[CAG]] of ''Galactica'', is also a member of the Vigilantes. He and his squadron were completely destroyed by [[Cylon Raider (RDM)|Cylon Raiders]] during the Cylon attack on the Twelve Colonies. The only known survivors at this time are Thrace, who was in the brig for striking a [[Saul Tigh|superior officer]], and the crew of the [[Raptor]] supporting the squadron, [[Sharon Valerii (Galactica Copy)|Sharon Valerii]] and [[Karl Agathon|Karl Agathon]]. It is unknown if the Raptor crew was part of the squadron or just assigned to support it ([[Miniseries]]).

The first class of [[Nugget|nuggets]] fly as members of this squadron ([[Act of Contrition]]).

[[Margaret Edmondson]] and [[Hamish McCall]], [[Raptor]] pilots, are both members of the Vigilantes ([[Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I]]).

====Known Members====
*[[Jackson Spencer|Jackson "Ripper" Spencer]]
*[[Kara Thrace|Kara "Starbuck" Thrace]]
*[[Louanne Katraine|Louanne "Kat" Katraine]]
*[[Brendan Costanza|Brendan "Hot Dog" Costanza]]
*[[Margaret Edmondson|Margaret "Racetrack" Edmondson]]
*[[Hamish McCall|Hamish "Skulls" McCall]]

==Squadron Crests==
<gallery>
Image:Primus Epiphanies.JPG|''Fighter Squadron 1''<br> '''Primus'''    
Image:ViperWepsSchool_AoC.JPG|''Raptor Squadron 2''<br> '''Name Unknown'''    
Image:Vigil Mini.JPG|''Fighter Squadron 3''<br> '''Vigilantes'''    
Image:Demons AoC.JPG|''Fighter Squadron 4''<br> '''Demons'''    
Image:Vampires AoC.JPG|''Fighter Squadron 6''<br> '''Vampires'''    
Image:7th Battleaxe.jpg|''Raptor Squadron 7''<br> '''Battleaxe'''    
Image:Squad8_logo.jpg|''Fighter Squadron 8''<br> '''Red Aces - Aces N' Eights'''    
Image:Headhunters detail.jpg|''Fighter Squadron 9''<br> '''Headhunters'''    
Image:FS10 Resistance.JPG|''Fighter Squadron 10''<br> '''Raptors'''    
</gallery>

==References==
<div style="font-size:85%"><references/></div>

[[Category:A to Z]]
[[Category:Colonial]]
[[Category:Colonial Military]]
[[Category:Colonial Military (RDM)]]
[[Category:Fighter squadrons]]
[[Category:RDM]]