Lyrics of Aces in Exile by Sabaton
In the skies above the isle, Aces in exile prevail
From near and far they arrived, joined the force
Ready to serve the allied command
Sent into training though they already earned their wings
They were ready fly, they were fit for the fight
Once in the air, the battle begins
They have proven their worth, now they fly for revenge
Fighter pilots in exile fly over foreign land
Let their story be heard, tell of 303rd
Fighter pilots from Poland in the battle of Britain
Guarding the skies of the isle
Even at night shadows cover the ground
And the fighting goes on from dusk until dawn
With the claw of the Reich with the claw of the eagle
They were ready to fly, they were ready to die
Up in the air the battle goes on
They have proven their worth, now they have their revenge
Fighter pilots in exile fly over foreign land
Tell their story again, tell of 310
Men from Czechoslovakia in the battle of Britain
Guarding the skies of the isle
Over the battlefield brave men long way from home
Few are the chosen ones sent to the sky to die
Over the battlefield brave men long way from home
Few are the chosen ones sent to the sky to die
Fly, it echoes in history
Turning the tide in the heavens above
Oh, fighter pilots in exile fly over foreign land
When the battle has been won, tell of 401
Fighter pilots from Canada in the battle of Britain
Guarding the skies of the isle
On wings of history they turned from home to live eternally skybound they roam
In all of history, never before was more owed to so few
Fighter pilots in exile!
Historical Background
In short: The Song is about foreign pilots in World War II, especially in the Battle of Britain.
Aces in Exile – The Forgotten Heroes of the Battle of Britain
Some fought for their country. Others fought because they had no country left.
Sabaton’s Aces in Exile isn’t just a war song—it’s a tribute to the forgotten foreign pilots who risked everything in the Battle of Britain. These weren’t just men with guns. They were exiled warriors, fighting in the skies over a land that wasn’t theirs—because they refused to surrender.
Let’s talk about the heroes without a home.
The Battle of Britain – Not Just the British
The Battle of Britain wasn’t won by the Royal Air Force (RAF) alone. While British pilots were outnumbered, a lifeline arrived from across the world—experienced fighter aces who had already fought and lost their homelands to Nazi Germany.
These men came from Poland, Czechoslovakia, Canada, New Zealand, Belgium, France, and other Allied nations. They had one thing in common:
They had nowhere else to go.
For them, this wasn’t just another battle. This was personal.
The Legendary Squadrons
Sabaton name-drops some of the most badass fighter squadrons of the war:
303rd Squadron – The Polish Aces 🇵🇱
“Tell of 303rd, fighter pilots from Poland in the Battle of Britain, guarding the skies of the isle.”
The Polish 303rd Squadron was the deadliest unit of the entire Battle of Britain—even though they weren’t even allowed to fight at first. British command doubted them. Then, the Poles got into the air and tore the Luftwaffe apart.
- 126 confirmed kills (the highest of any RAF squadron)
- Superior dogfighting skills (they had already fought the Luftwaffe over Poland and France)
- Zero hesitation – They fought like men with nothing to lose.
Their message to the Nazis? You took our country, but you won’t take our fight.
310th Squadron – The Czech Ghosts 🇨🇿
“Tell their story again, tell of 310, men from Czechoslovakia in the Battle of Britain.”
The Czechoslovak pilots had fled their homeland, first to France, and then to Britain after France fell. They fought with unmatched fury, knowing they were up against the same Luftwaffe that had crushed their home.
And they got their revenge—racking up dozens of kills over Britain.
401st Squadron – The Canadian Eagles 🇨🇦
“When the battle has been won, tell of 401, fighter pilots from Canada in the Battle of Britain.”
The Canadians were among the first to join Britain’s fight, bringing skilled pilots and aggressive tactics. They weren’t just support—they were an essential part of the RAF’s air defense.
They came from across the ocean to defend a land they’d never seen. And they fought like hell.
Aces in Exile – More Than Just a Song
This isn’t just about history. It’s about legacy.
“In all of history, never before was more owed to so few.”
That’s Churchill’s famous line about the RAF pilots of the Battle of Britain. But it wasn’t just the British pilots—it was the exiles, the volunteers, the forgotten warriors who gave everything.
These men weren’t just fighting to win.
They were fighting to keep their nations alive—even when those nations had already fallen.
The Lesson?
It’s not where you’re from. It’s what you’re willing to fight for.
These pilots had every reason to run, to hide, to give up. But instead, they took to the skies and changed history.
Because sometimes, warriors don’t fight for land.
They fight for revenge, redemption, and the right to fly free.