The Mœbius Probe
One of art legend Mœbius’s smallest comic book doodles grew to a starring role in Star Wars II.
The swashbuckling adventure of Captain Blood, written by Rafael Sabatini takes place in the town of Taunton. It was made into a film in 1935, starring Errol Flynn. Given Lucas's viewing habits, it's plausible he saw it and picked up the name of the rebellion's snow mounts from it.
Given the lack of an ocean around the above Taunton, it's probably not that Taunton in question; nevertheless that also exists. Who knows if it played some distant role?
WWII was an enormous influence on all kids of the 50s and 60s, and Lucas was no exception. From the general good vs evil nature of the conflict to the specifics of war epics like The Guns of Navarone and air-heroics of The Dam Busters and 633 Squadron, it seems entirely possible that Star Wars would never have existed if not for the war.