Raised as a farmboy on the backwater desert world of Tatooine, Luke had no idea that he was the secret son of Anakin Skywalker, the Chosen One born to bring balance to the Force. After his stepparents were murdered by the Empire, he destroyed the Death Star and became the Rebellion's greatest hero.
But Luke's true destiny lay with the Jedi Order. He learned the ways of the Force from Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda, and discovered the terrible secret of his parentage. Luke insisted there was still good in Darth Vader, and his love for his father reawakened Anakin's spirit, inspiring him to sacrifice himself to destroy Darth Sidious.
It was a partial holographic message of Princess Leia, pleading for help, that launched Luke into a galaxy of adventure. The young hero was looking only to help a girl in trouble -- little did he know that their pasts and destinies were so connected.
Though Luke had come to learn that Anakin Skywalker was a daring pilot and Jedi, he did not know that Anakin had fallen to the dark side to become Darth Vader. Likewise, Vader did not know he had a son until after Luke destroyed the first Death Star. Vader attempted to lure Luke to the dark side.
Obi-Wan Kenobi watched over Luke as he grew up on Tatooine. Kenobi recognized that Luke had a great Force potential, and hoped that he would some day be able to defeat his former apprentice, Darth Vader.
Luke purchased R2-D2 from Jawa traders not knowing that the little astromech was in fact a Rebel droid owned by the Royal House of Alderaan -- the noble family where his long lost twin sister could be found.
Though the Battle of Yavin was Luke Skywalker's first experience behind the stick of an advanced starfighter, he had logged many hours joyriding in an Incom T-16 skyhopper while on Tatooine. The two vehicles are very similar, and Luke got the hang of the X-wing right away. Flying as Red Five, Luke not only survived the Battle of Yavin, but won it.