Desideri served with the 160^o Gruppo during the Greek campaign. The unit was at this time equipped with Fiat CR.42s

On 16 March 1941, Sergente Maggiore Desideri and Sergente Maggiore Francesco Penna of 160^o Gruppo C.T. flew a night interception in their Fiat CR.42s. During this mission they shot down Wellington R1387 from 37 Squadron, which had attacked Tirana airfield, Albania. Two other aircraft, T2580 and T2895, managed to return to Menidi despite being seriously damaged during this mission.

Desideri ended the war with 1 shared victory, this one claimed while flying the Fiat CR.42.

Claims:

Kill no.	Date	Number	Type	Result	Plane type	Serial no.	Locality	Unit
	1941
	16/03/41	½	Wellington (a)	Shared destroyed	Fiat CR.42		near Tirana	160o Gruppo

Biplane victories: 1 shared destroyed.
TOTAL: 1 shared destroyed.
(a) Wellington R1387 of 37 Squadron shot down.

Sources:
La caccia notturna Italiana 1940-1942 - Giancarlo Garello, 1996 Aerofan nr. 57 apr-giu 1996 kindly provided by Jean Michel Cala
Additional information kindly provided by Giovanni Massimello.