Aahh, remember it well. After the duty practice fly-by, GB leading, announced ‘hang in you young bu¬¬ers’ and promptly wheeled the 16 ship formation around the airfield. Viewing from the outer extremities I thought that the down-wing aircraft were quite close to the ground; until the turn was reversed ...
IIRC, GB led the occasional Friday POETS four ship as mood and weather allowed; staff and students promptly opened the Gin Mine, - a Carboy of Gin courtesy (a tradition) of the USAF exchange pilot / engineer to witness formation aeros over the airfield, which at that time were ‘disapproved of’.
The 28 ship AOC’s Balbo was a completely different affair (different leadership). 20+ aircraft diverted, N, S, and W of Coltishall after the leader took the barrier in poor weather.