Explanation for Americans:
The Supermarine Spitfire was the RAF's (British Royal Air Force) best fighter in WWII (for attacking other fighters at least) and is now legendary and known to almost everyone in Britain. The Messerschmitt was the Luftwaffe's (germen air force) main fighter, and was regularly used for escorting bombers. This song is can't possibly be about Pearl Harbour, because neither the Japanese or the USAAF used either aircraft.
After France was occupied by German forces, large areas of England were within bomber range for the Luftwaffe. The song is obviously set during the Battle of Britain, as Axis bombers flew over London escorted by ME-109s, trying to destroy Britain's capacity to resist a land invasion. The Spitfires would have gone after the escorting fighters while Hawker Hurricanes took out the bombers.
"Flak" = Anti-aircraft fire
"Scramble" = Getting out to the planes and into the air as fast as possible when incoming bombers are detected. RAF pilots would wait inside at their airbase, and a siren would sound when Fighter Command ordered them to take off.
Ace = A highly skilled fighter pilot.
It's interesting to compare this with The Trooper, which take a very different view of war. They seems to actually celebrate the heroism of the pilots in Aces High. I suppose Iron Maiden recognise that it was not just pointless conflict and that Britain was actually saved from a Nazi invasion.
Explanation for Americans: The Supermarine Spitfire was the RAF's (British Royal Air Force) best fighter in WWII (for attacking other fighters at least) and is now legendary and known to almost everyone in Britain. The Messerschmitt was the Luftwaffe's (germen air force) main fighter, and was regularly used for escorting bombers. This song is can't possibly be about Pearl Harbour, because neither the Japanese or the USAAF used either aircraft.
After France was occupied by German forces, large areas of England were within bomber range for the Luftwaffe. The song is obviously set during the Battle of Britain, as Axis bombers flew over London escorted by ME-109s, trying to destroy Britain's capacity to resist a land invasion. The Spitfires would have gone after the escorting fighters while Hawker Hurricanes took out the bombers. "Flak" = Anti-aircraft fire "Scramble" = Getting out to the planes and into the air as fast as possible when incoming bombers are detected. RAF pilots would wait inside at their airbase, and a siren would sound when Fighter Command ordered them to take off. Ace = A highly skilled fighter pilot.
It's interesting to compare this with The Trooper, which take a very different view of war. They seems to actually celebrate the heroism of the pilots in Aces High. I suppose Iron Maiden recognise that it was not just pointless conflict and that Britain was actually saved from a Nazi invasion.