Luigi Deggiovanni was born on 12 December 1916 and was from Alessandria.

On 1 October 1939, he was commissioned (in Servizio Permanente Effettivo).

He was promoted to Tenente on 6 February 1941.

In December 1941, Tenente Luigi Deggiovanni served in the 154^a Squadriglia, 3^o Gruppo CT, which was equipped with Fiat CR.42s and based in Libya.

On 17 December, two Blenheim IVs of 107 Squadron from Malta attacked motor vehicles between between Pisida and Zuara.
154^a Squadriglia scrambled with four CR.42s between 13:45 and 14:50. Tenente Deggiovanni engaged two Blenheims in combat; they were part of a formation of three enemy aircraft that had made a hedgehopping attack on Sorman airfield.

“I scrambled from Sorman airfield at 13.55 on 17.12.1941 and at an altitude of about 500 m, high over Sabratha, I noticed two aircraft below me at a distance of about a hundred metres one from the other. They were going along the coast at a low altitude in a direction opposite to mine. I changed direction and dived down on the second after I had seen the British markings. Therefore I opened fire and followed it down to the surface of the water.
I noticed that from the first bursts the enemy aircraft was leaving a trail of smoke from time to time and was slowing down so much that I managed to keep up with it. Then the other aircraft, which I had lost sight of, got near the other plane and started firing strong bursts from the machine gun in the top turret. In the meantime my guns had jammed and while I tried to rearm I continued the pursuit but after pulling up gaining height I saw only one of the two aeroplanes. It was quickly making off in a north east direction. As my guns were still jammed I returned to base where I landed at 14.50. I had fired 530 rounds from the 12.7mm calibre machine gun.”

“P.O. Williamson left the coast and was immediately attacked by a CR.42 who made repeated attacks, causing considerable damage to the aircraft and slightly wounding the observer. The Blenheim returned fire and probably obtained hits because the CR.42 broke off the combat. Sgt. Noseda on seeing that P.O. Williamson was being chased by E/A did not drop his fourth bomb, but set course for base.”

On 9 November 1942, MC.200 MM5799 was damaged during take-off but the pilot, Tenente Deggiovanni from the 160^o Gruppo CT. was safe.

Deggiovanni ended the war with one damaged biplane victory.

Claims:

Kill no.	Date	Time	Number	Type	Result	Plane type	Serial no.	Locality	Unit
	1941
	17/12/41	13:45-14:50	1	Blenheim (a)	Damaged	Fiat CR.42		Sorman airfield	154a Squadriglia

Biplane victories: 1 damaged.
TOTAL: 1 damaged.
(a) Blenheim of 107 Squadron damaged.

Sources:
A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940-1945: Volume One – Christopher Shores and Giovanni Massimello with Russell Guest, 2012 Grub Street, London, ISBN 978-1908117076
A History of the Mediterranean Air War 1940-1945: Volume Two – Christopher Shores and Giovanni Massimello with Russell Guest, Frank Olynyk & Winfried Bock, 2012 Grub Street, London, ISBN-13: 9781909166127
Annuario Ufficiale Delle Forze Armate Del Regno D’Italia Anno 1943. Part III Regia Aeronautica – 1943 Istituto Poligrafico Dello Stato, Roma
Elenco Nominativo dei Militari dell' A. M. Decorati al V. M. Durante it Periodo 1929 - 1945 2 Volume M - Z
La Battaglie Aeree In Africa Settentrionale: Novembre-Dicembre 1941 – Michele Palermo, IBN, ISBN 88-7565-102-7