Ofnir Squadron
Ofnir Squadron, officially the 5th Tactical Fighter Squadron, was a unit of the Belkan Air Force's 6th Air Division. After the end of the Belkan War, the squadron's members were headhunted by the Yuktobanian Air Force and became a covert aggressor unit.
The squadron's pro-Belka sympathies, however, eventually compelled its members to join the "Grey Men," becoming one of the main provocateurs of the Circum-Pacific War.
Etymology[edit | edit source]
Ofnir Squadron derives its name from Ófnir ("inciter" or "the twisting one"), a serpent-like creature of Norse mythology that gnawed on the roots of the world tree, Yggdrasil. The squadron's emblem, a snake holding a twig in its mouth, reflects this, while its name is reflected by their role in inciting the Circum-Pacific War.
History[edit | edit source]
Origins and formation[edit | edit source]
Ofnir Squadron was originally the Belkan Air Force 6th Air Division's 5th Tactical Fighter Squadron. The squadron is known to have been present during the large-scale aerial engagement that took place over Area B7R on May 28, 1995. At some point, one of the squadron's rookie aces, Michael Heimeroth, assumed command of the squadron, which adopted his personal callsign, "Ofnir", as its own.[3][4]
Sometime after Belka's surrender, Ofnir was inducted into the Yuktobanian Air Force as part of an international effort to recruit Belkan pilots.[5] The service history of Ofnir Squadron, now operating under a new, unknown YAF designation, remains a mystery; despite this cooperative gesture, however, Ofnir's members continued to ally themselves with Belka.
Circum-Pacific War[edit | edit source]
At some point, Ofnir Squadron began conspiring with the secret organization known as the Grey Men to avenge Belka's defeat in 1995. Although details remain uncertain, Ofnir—in conjunction with their Osea-based counterparts, Grabacr Squadron—perpetrated a series of unspecified events that compelled Yuktobania to begin spying on Osea in late 2010.
Attempt to eliminate Razgriz Squadron[edit | edit source]
On December 16, Ofnir Squadron was dispatched to Payavlenie Ravine to recover the nuclear warhead that had been stolen from the Belkan aggressors by the Yuktobanian resistance. Upon arriving at the ravine, Ofnir discovered that the Yuktobanian forces had been devastated by a single squadron of jet-black fighters. Although initially skeptical that these fighters were the "ghosts" of the Demons of Razgriz (Wardog Squadron), Ofnir broke into two flights of two and began sweeping the ravine for the unknown fighters. After an extended pursuit through the canyons, Ofnir was summarily shot down;[1] however, all of the squadron's pilots survived and described the encounter to a fellow Grey Men operative, "Adler".[6]
Destruction[edit | edit source]
On December 31, Ofnir, accompanied by Grabacr Squadron, flew to Oured Bay to ensure that the Strategic Orbital Linear Gun (SOLG) descended through the atmosphere and impacted Osea's capital, Oured. During their approach towards the capital, Ofnir and Grabacr encountered Razgriz Squadron, which was bound for the satellite's descent point. Despite outnumbering the Razgriz two to one, the Belkans were shot down in the ensuing dogfight.[7] All of Ofnir's pilots are presumed to have been killed in action, and the squadron was likely disbanded soon afterward.
Gallery[edit | edit source]
Michael Heimeroth's F-15 S/MTD circa the Belkan War
An Ofnir Su-35 Super Flanker circa the Circum-Pacific War
An Ofnir S-32 used during the final moments of the Circum-Pacific War
An Ofnir Su-37 in Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown
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Trivia[edit | edit source]
- Ofnir Squadron has two distinct designs for its emblem.
- The original design, seen in both the 2011 edition of Aces At War: A History and on the Ofnir skin for the Su-37 Terminator in Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, depicts the serpent with its tail drooping down.
- An alternate design was created for the selectable Ofnir Squadron emblem in Ace Combat 7, depicting the serpent's tail being curled under it. This was likely to make the design fit better within the square 512x512 canvas of Ace Combat 7's emblems.
References[edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Mission 23: "Ghosts of Razgriz", Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War.
- ↑ Mission 21: Solitaire, Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War.
- ↑ Assault Records #092: Michael Heimeroth, Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War.
- ↑ Mission 10: "Mayhem", Ace Combat Zero: The Belkan War.
- ↑ Cutscene 16, Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War.
- ↑ Mission 24: "White Bird (Part II)", Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War.
- ↑ Mission 27+: "The Unsung War", Ace Combat 5: The Unsung War.