Balbo, Italo (ē`tälō bäl`bō), 1896–1940, Italian Fascist leader and aviator. After serving in World War I, he joined the Fascist movement and in 1922 was one of the four top leaders of the March on Rome, which brought Mussolini to power. A general of the Fascist militia, he held several cabinet posts and was (1929–33) minister of aviation. He efficiently developed aviation in Italy and led mass flights, the most notable being Rome–Rio de Janeiro and Rome–Chicago (1933). As governor-general of Libya (1933–40) he attempted to gain Muslim support for Fascism. He was killed when his plane crashed at Tobruk, Libya, apparently shot down accidentally by Italian antiaircraft artillery.

Balbo, Italo

(born June 6, 1896, near Ferrara, Italy—died June 28, 1940, Tobruk, Libya) Italian aviator and politician. He led the fascist Blackshirts in the March on Rome (1922) and served under Benito Mussolini as general of militia (1923) and air minister (1929–33). Balbo developed Italian military and commercial aviation and became famous for promoting mass international flights to demonstrate Italy's air power. He was appointed governor of Libya in 1933 and died when his plane was accidentally shot down by Italian guns over Tobruk.