This evolved quickly into the current red, black, and white logo with the phrase, 'Vader's Fist' to express the force with which the 501st led. Shortly after that, Scott McArthur of Canada became involved and developed the original logo with the words, 'The Fighting 501st!' as its catch phrase with a stormtrooper helmet with red eyes in front of a purple Imperial logo.

Arnie DeHerrera started 'Stormtrooperland' at the same time in 1997 and started email conversation with Johnson and Crews. In 1997, Albin Johnson set up a GeoCities website called 'Detention Block 2551' as a place to post photos of himself and his friend Tom Crews in their homemade Stormtrooper costumes. ĥ01st at the Fan Expo Canada 2016 in Toronto. Although not officially affiliated with the Walt Disney Company or Lucasfilm LLC., the 501st Legion is Lucasfilm's preferred Imperial costuming organization, and its members were featured as extras in the official series The Mandalorian. Legion members make appearances at casual, promotional, and charitable events, often at the request of Lucasfilm's Fan Events department. The Legion is active on 6 continents, with local units known as 'Garrisons' and 'Outposts' in over 60 countries. įormed in South Carolina by residents Albin Johnson and Tom Crews in August 1997, the Legion now has over 14,000 active members worldwide, with over 26,000 approved costumes.

The 501st Legion, called by its nickname Vader's Fist, is made up entirely of volunteers. The 501st Legion is an international fan-based organization dedicated to the construction and wearing of screen-accurate replicas of Imperial Stormtrooper armor, Sith Lords, Clone Troopers, bounty hunters, and other villains from the Star Wars universe. Members of the 501st Legion with George Lucas at the 2007 Tournament of Roses Parade

Phase 1 501st trooper