Well, if you need any more clarification, here's a quote from EU (yeah, I know, right?), specifically X-Wing Rogue Squadron by Michael Stackpole:

Wedge folded his arms across his chest. "I was there when Biggs died. I got hit and pulled up out of the trench on Luke's orders. Your cousin and I both knew we were really there as an added set of shields to keep Luke safe, but we didn't regret that. We knew he'd have done the same thing for us and we also knew he had to blow the Death Star. Biggs stayed there, keeping the TIEs back, and died there. And even though he died, he bought Luke the time he needed to destroy the Death Star."

So, yeah, that pretty much confirms what Scruffy said.