Paper Plane Squadron

The Paper Plane Squadron (also known as the Paper Airplane Squadron) is a fleet of paper planes appearing in Paper Mario: The Origami King. When Mario and Olivia take off into the sky with the Koopa Troop aboard Bowser's airship, the fleet appears, dispatched by King Olly to stop them from reaching Peach's Castle. The Koopa Troop, Bowser Jr., and Kamek engage the planes in a battle in the sky while Mario takes control of the airship's main cannon to shoot Bob-ombs at them.

A Collectible Treasure of the Paper Plane Squadron (No. 115) can be found inside Origami Castle.

Battle
The player takes control of a cannon, using either motion controls or the left analog stick to aim the cannon. There are several smaller paper planes which fly across the screen in different directions with several attempting to hit the airship.

Planes that fly directly to the cannon are more common, requiring one hit to destroy. Less commonly, planes will approach in a zigzag formation; these require two hits to destroy. A plane close to the airship creates a sound similar to a flying jet. Occasionally, Kamek or Bowser Jr. can be seen chasing after common planes, and a Koopa Paratroopa may also be seen being chased by two common planes; destroying those planes will result in the Koopa Paratroopa fully repairing the airship a few moments later.

The airship has five hearts of health to begin, and one heart is depleted when a paper plane successfully crashes into it; sometimes there are hearts in parachutes which can be shot to regain some health. If all five hearts are depleted, it will result in a Game Over.

Some time into the fight, Kamek will notice a mysterious purple object below the battle, and goes off to investigate. Later, Bowser Jr. appears, believing the battle is over, only for Kamek to return, just as the object he was investigating is revealed: a giant purple paper plane which takes many Bob-ombs to defeat. It will fly ahead of the plane, releasing many common planes, and very slightly getting closer to the airship. When the giant paper plane is damaged enough, both Kamek and Bowser Jr. believe they have won, only for the heavily damaged plane to attempt to fly straight into the airship, so Kamek, Bowser Jr., and Mario keep firing at the plane until it finally explodes.

With the Paper Plane Squadron defeated, the airship continues on its course. However, before it can begin its final approach to Peach's Castle, a much-larger paper plane collides into the airship on its port side, causing the severely damaged airship to plunge from the sky, miss the castle, and crash-land into Hotfoot Crater.

During the third phase of the final battle with King Olly, he can transform his arms into cannons and fire paper planes that are identical to the ones of the Paper Plane Squadron to attack Mario.

Profile

 * Collectible Treasure No. 115: "A set of planes dispatched by King Olly to shoot down Bowser's airship. Show 'em who really rules the skies!"