Big Wing

 ( Aerial Warfare Tactics ) 

The Big Wing, also known as a Balbo,

was an air fighting tactic proposed during the Battle of Britain by 12 Group commander Air Vice-Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory and Acting Squadron Leader Douglas Bader. In essence, the tactic involved meeting incoming Luftwaffe bombing raids in strength with a wing-shaped formation of three to five squadrons. In the Battle, this tactic was employed by the Duxford Wing, under Bader's command.

The name "Balbo" refers to Italo Balbo, an Italian air force officer and fascist political leader famous for leading large formations of aircraft on long distance flights before the war.

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See also

• British military history of World War II

Notes

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Further reading

• Bungay, Steven. The Most Dangerous Enemy: A History of the Battle of Britain. (Aurum Press, 2001).
• Davison, Martin and Taylor, James. Spitfire Ace: Flying the Battle of Britain. (Pan Books, 2004).
• Len Deighton (2025). 9781845951061, Vintage. ISBN 9781845951061
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• Dixon, Jack. Dowding & Churchill. (Pen and Sword Books, 2008)
• Fisher, David E. A Race On The Edge Of Time. New York, Athena Books 1989 .
• James, T.C.G. The Battle of Britain. Royal Air Force Official Histories, Air Defence of Great Britain, vol2. (Frank Cass, 2000)
• Bill Newton Dunn (1992). 9781853102400, AirLife. ISBN 9781853102400
• Ray, John. The Battle of Britain: Dowding and the First Victory, 1940 (aka The Battle of Britain: New Perspectives). (Cassell, 2000).
• Sarkar, Dilip. Bader's Duxford Fighters: The Big Wing Controversy. (Victory Books International, 2006).
• Turner, John Frayn. The Bader Wing. (Pen and Sword Books, 2007).

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