Balbo (aircraft formation)

Balbo was a common term in the late 1930s and early 1940s to describe any large formation of aircraft.Template:Citation needed It was named after the Italian fascist flying ace Italo Balbo who led a series of large aircraft formations in record-breaking flights to promote Italian aviation in the 1930s.<ref name="Flight, 14 September 1933, Balbo" >Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> During the Battle of Britain the term was used for the Big Wings that were based at RAF Duxford.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The term is used today in the UK for a mass fly-by at the end of an airshow.