Fiorenzo Milella was from Firenze.

Milella took part in the Spanish Civil War where he served with 25^a Squadriglia, XVI Gruppo, equipped with Fiat CR.32s.
During his time in Spain, he claimed 4 victories.

On the last day of August 1940, the 151^o Gruppo C.T. (366^a, 367^a and 368^a Squadriglie) was ordered to move in Libya with 30 CR.42s as a reinforcement for the attack against Sidi Barrani.
The unit under the command of Maggiore Carlo Calosso was one of the first equipped with CR.42s in 1939 and was based in Caselle Torinese near Turin, with sections and Squadriglie detached in different airbases of North Italy for local defence duties.
They departed Caselle Torinese in the morning of 6 September and at 18:20 on 8 September, the whole Gruppo landed in Tripoli Castel Benito.
The 366^a Squadriglia formation was composed of ten aircraft: Capitano Bernardino Serafini (CO), Tenente Mario Ferrero (the Gruppo Adjutant), Sottotenente Amedeo Guidi, Maresciallo Giulio Cesare, Sergente Maggiore Milella, Sergente Maggiore Dino Carta, Sergente Maggiore Roberto Marchi, Sergente Maggiore Cesare Chiarmetta, Sergente Antonio Camerini, Sergente Eugenio Cicognani. Tenente Piero Veneziani and Maresciallo Giovanni Accorsi followed in the unit’s hack Caproni Ca.133 together with five ground personnel.
The formation of 367^a Squadriglia comprised the Gruppo Commander Maggiore Carlo Calosso, the 368^a Squadriglia’s pilot Sergente Piero Hosquet and nine other pilots for a total of eleven. Among them were Capitano Simeone Marsan (the CO), Tenente Irzio Bozzolan, Tenente Aldo Bonuti, Sergente Maggiore Gino Bogoni and Sergente Tolmino Zanarini. The Squadriglia’s other six pilots were Tenente Giuseppe Costantini, Maresciallo Bruno Castellani, Sergente Maggiore Rodolfo Benco, Sergente Maggiore Bruno Celotto, Sergente Renato Mingozzi and Sergente Maggiorino Soldati.
The 368^a Squadriglia formation was composed of nine aircraft: Capitano Bruno Locatelli (CO), Tenente Giuseppe Zuffi, Sottotenente Furio Lauri, Sergente Maggiore Davide Colauzzi, Sergente Maggiore Annibale Ricotti, Sergente Maggiore Alvise Andrich, Sergente Stefano Fiore, Sergente Ottorino Ambrosi, Sergente Mario Turchi. Tenente Orfeo Paroli and Maresciallo Guido Paparatti followed in the Ca.133 of the Squadriglia (Paroli and Fiore were just transferred from 367^a Squadriglia).
On 25 September the 151^o Gruppo transferred from Benghazi to El Adem where it replaced the 9^o Gruppo C.T.

In the afternoon on 9 December, SM 79s were out to bomb British troops at the Sidi Barrani - Bir Enba area. They were to be escorted by 19 CR.42s of the 9^o Gruppo led by Maggiore Ernesto Botto, which had taken off from El Adem at 14:55. The fighters included seven from the 73^a Squadriglia (Tenente Valerio De Campo (CO), Tenente Giulio Reiner, Sottotenente Alvaro Querci, Sergente Maggiore Guglielmo Biffani, Sergente Maggiore Enrico Dallari, Sergente Maggiore Antonio Valle and Sergente Santo Gino) seven from the 97^a Squadriglia (Capitano Antonio Larsimont Pergameni (CO), Tenente Ezio Viglione Borghese, Sottotenente Riccardo Vaccari, Sergente Maggiore Otello Perotti, Sergente Maggiore Massimo Salvatore, Sergente Angelo Golino and Sergente Alcide Leoni) and four from the 96^a Squadriglia (Tenente Aldo Gon and Sergente Giuseppe Tomasi together with two unknown pilots).
More Italian fighters were up to escort the bombers and at 15:10, Sergente Milella of the 366^a, 151^o Gruppo, attached to a formation of nine CR.42s of the 368^a Squadriglia (Capitano Bruno Locatelli, Sergente Maggiore Davide Colauzzi, Sergente Ernesto De Bellis, Sottotenente Furio Lauri, Sergente Maggiore Annibale Ricotti, Tenente Orfeo Paroli, Sergente Piero Hosquet, Sergente Stefano Fiore, Sergente Ottorino Ambrosi) were out to escorted Italian bombers in the Bir Enba area.
The rendezvous with the bombers over A3 failed and after 20 minutes, the fighters of the 9^o Gruppo arrived and together they proceeded towards the front on a free sweep. Three SM 79s were discovered and escorted for a while. Over Buq-Buq, a Hurricane strafing along the coastal road was discovered and the SM 79s were left to the 9^o Gruppo while the CR.42s of the 151^o Gruppo attacked the British fighter. The Hurricane was claimed shot down in flames and credited to the formation (but in fact only Locatelli, Lauri, Paroli and De Bellis fired their guns).
The 151^a Gruppo fighters returned to base at 16:50.
Meanwhile the fighters from the 9^o Gruppo continued and 30 km south of Bir Enba they spotted some Gladiators at a lower level and dived on them, but suddenly the CR.42s were jumped by a reported two Squadrons of Hurricanes or Spitfires, attacking respectively the 73^a Squadriglia and the 96^a Squadriglia with the 97^a Squadriglia. A large dogfight started and after 20 minutes of combat many claims were submitted by the Italian pilots
Tenente Vaccari fought alone against four Hurricanes, claiming one destroyed (as a Spitfire) and damaging the others before his Fiat was hit in the fuel tank and in the engine. He crash-landed near Sollum, the aircraft turning over and caught fire; he was burned in the face and hands. Sergente Maggiore Salvatore claimed a Spitfire and several damaged before being wounded in his left arm. He managed however to return to base. Sergente Golino was hit in his back, but managed to claim his attacker before being compelled to evade and land at Amseat A3. Sergente Maggiore Biffani (Fiat CR.42 MM5599/73-9) claimed a Hurricane but was at the same shot down by his victim and was captured. He recalled:

"In the afternoon of 9 December we were flying between Mersa Matruh and Buq-Buq, when my wingman, Sottotenente Alvaro Querci, warned me that we had enemies behind us. I alerted Botto by shooting a burst [Note that the CR.42 had no radio during this period], then I realized they were near my tail, so I made a 180-degree turn and I saw them pass: they were three Hurricanes. I climbed almost vertically and saw the 73^a Squadriglia in front, the three Hurricanes behind it and 96^a and 97^a Squadriglia behind them, all in a vertical line that went down to the ground. Then I discovered a Hurricane that was breaking off from the combat, clearly he had seen the other Italian fighters on its tail. I continued to climb, now I was the highest fighter of them all, then I dived down at full throttle [towards the escaping Hurricane]. I arrived near it and then I reduced speed and put the revolutions between 1850 and 2250 because otherwise I would had cut my propeller as happened to Gon and others, because the airscrew went out of gear and the round was fired when it passed in front of the gun (…) . When I closed to it, I opened fire. I aimed and saw the explosive bullets that exploded on the wing. Why didn’t anything happen? Was there no fuel at all? I fired at the other wing but it was the same, the bullets exploded but nothing happened. I fired into the engine, nothing happened. I saw the tracers very well, and after all, it wasn’t the first time I was shooting. At Gorizia I used to hit the target balloon with ten rounds only. In the meantime, I was losing speed and falling behind, O.K. Goodbye! It passed and turned towards me again -so I hadn’t caused any damage to it- , and I did the same. We found ourselves face to face at a distance of around 500-600 metres. I started firing and saw my tracers hitting it, then its wings lit up and in the same moment my plane caught fire, it was just an instant. My plane was severely damaged and while I was trying to land I saw the Hurricane that dived into the ground and exploded. I saw no parachute. I force-landed among British MTs and was immediately taken prisoner. I went back home after 63 months of POW!"

“The enemy engaged in dogfight. Claim one E a/c for certain (saw it hit the ground). Attacked two in tight vic and was at 200 yards point blank range and fell certain must have killed pilots. Got another good and point blank deflection shot at another. Closed from optimum to point blank range at first. Must (?) have shot down the first two but could not spare time to confirm. 3rd point blank deflection shot likely and fourth adversary saw it hit the ground (claim 1 confirmed and 2 others which I feel certain about but must go down as unconfirmed).”

“The enemy fired back. 1 CR 42 shot down and seen to hit the ground without burning. Several other machines were shot at individually. They can out manoeuvre a Hurricane but one can get away and then come back.”

“The enemy tried to turn inside me. 1 CR 42 shot at short range from above into cockpit. Aircraft turned (unreadable) with sparks from it. Followed it down until attacked by others CR 42s. Using 15^o flap climb (unreadable) but not quite equal to 42. Speed on level far superior. Possible when attacked from above to turn and deliver short head on burst.”

“The enemy dog fought, during dogfight damaged two enemy and sent one down out of control but could not see it crash as another was in my tail. The enemy fairly aggressive.”

“The enemy started a general dogfight. 1 CR 42 shot down and seen to burn out on the ground”.

The only combat of 1 January 1941 was apparently over Derna where the 366^a Squadriglia, 151^o Gruppo, formed a detached alarm section (the rest of the Gruppo was at Agedabia, where it was recovering efficiency). Pilots in the detached alarm section were Sergente Milella, Tenente Piero Veneziani and Maresciallo Giovanni Accorsi.
At 13:20, Sergente Milella took off alone following a signal coming from the local flak and climbed to 5000 metres. From that height, he discovered under him a formation of nine British bombers and immediately attacked. One of the bombers was seen to catch fire and fell in the sea close to the coast and another bomber was hit in the right engine and left the formation on fire. With both guns jammed, Milella was forced to turn back, landing at 14:20 and being apparently credited with a confirmed and a probable after using 520 rounds of ammunition.
The identity of the opposing RAF unit remains uncertain but it seems likely that it was 113 Squadron while it is reported in British sources that “The new year began with a display of pugnacity and courage by an Italian fighter pilot, who, flying a single CR.42, attacked nine Blenheims that had just taken off(!) from Derna and damaged five of them.”
Derna suffered no damage from the raid.

On 2 February 1941, 274 Squadron carried out offensive patrols between Mechili and Maraua. In the afternoon four Hurricanes of the unit (Flying Officer Arthur Weller, Flight Lieutenant Tulesne, Flying Officer H. C. Down and Flying Officer Lynch) ground strafed at least 20 large diesel lorries on the road Maraua – Slonta just east of the former town.
Ten Blenheims of the 55 Squadron bombed just before the attack of the Hurricanes but found the convoy well prepared. Although they were able to inflict heavy damage, they also suffered heavy damage to three of their bombers. Additionally CR.42s attacked, forcing Flight Lieutenant Smith to force-land at Gazala while Blenheim T2240 of Pilot Officer Peter Gerhard Blignaut (RAF no. 84988) was shot down with the loss of the crew; Sergeant Harold Redvers Rundle (RAF no. 529576) and the 21-year-old Australian wireless operator/air gunner Sergeant Ernest Robert William Currie (RAAF no. 207702) (from 3 RAAF Squadron on attachment to 55 Squadron). Two CR.42s were claimed damaged in return.
Two Blenheims (Pilot Officer Gibbs and Pilot Officer Dennis) of 45 Squadron took part in the same attack, taking off at 14:25. They reported that a long-nosed Blenheim, most likely Pilot Officer Blignaut’s machine, was seen shot down in flames by AA fire near Slonta.
In the meantime, six SM 79s of the 235^a Squadriglia, 60^o Gruppo, led by Capitano Athos Ammannato carried out a bombing raid against the Australian troops along the Berta-Slonta road. They took off from Soluch at 14:10 and landed back at 16:40. The bombers were escorted by five CR.42s from the 366^a Squadriglia led by Tenente Guglielmo Chiarini and Tenente Mario Ferrero (Maresciallo Giovanni Accorsi, Sergente Maggiore Milella, Sergente Maggiore Dino Carta) and five from the 367^a Squadriglia (Capitano Giuseppe Costantini, Tenente Ceccotti, Sergente Maggiore Renato Mingozzi, Sergente Maggiorino Soldati and Sergente Stefano Fiore ). After the bombing while returning, a lone Bristol Blenheim was discovered and attacked by the 367^a formation with Tenente Ferrero and Sergente Milella while Chiarini remained to guard from superior height. The British bomber was hit and damaged by the fire of the whole formation but was not seen to fall being instead able to fly towards the ground at high speed, being claimed only as damaged. The formation landed back at 16:40 low on fuel. It seems highly likely that the Blenheim was Flight Lieutenant Smith’s.

The 9^o and 10^o Gruppi flew a mission over Fuka between 15:15 and 16:30 on 20 October 1942, claiming six enemy aircraft without losses. Tenente Orlando Mandolini (91^a Squadriglia) claimed one Spitfire and a Boston shared with Tenente Antonio Canfora (97^a Squadriglia) and Tenente Giovanni Barcaro (97^a Squadriglia). Tenente Barcaro also claimed a P-40 while two Spitfires were claimed by Tenente Canfora. A second Boston was claimed as shared among four pilots: Maresciallo Antonio Sacchi (96^a Squadriglia), Maresciallo Milella (96^a Squadriglia), Maresciallo Manlio Olivetti (96^a Squadriglia) and Sergente Maggiore Alfredo Bombardini (97^a Squadriglia).

Between 11:40-12:55 on 21 October, nine MC.202s of the 23^o Gruppo engaged British fighters over Fuka. The 74^a Squadriglia made some claims when Sergente Dante Pancaldi claimed one P-40 destroyed, Sergente Luigi Bozzolan one probable P-40, Sergente Maggiore V. Cavicchioli one probable P-40, Maresciallo Gino Giannelli one probable P-40 and Sergente Mario Mantelli one probable Spitfire.
The 9^o and 10^o Gruppi was in the air during the same time and also took part in this combat. Sergente Luciano Perdoni (84^a Squadriglia in MC.202 ’90-5’) claimed one Spitfire, Tenente Ezio Bevilacqua (84^a Squadriglia) claimed two Spitfires, Tenente Enrico Moretti claimed one Spitfire and Tenente Anselmo Maggini claimed a probable Spitfire. Tenente Ezio Bevilacqua (MM7838/91-5) was however shot down and killed. It also seems that Maresciallo Milella was wounded in this combat and he belly-landed with his damaged MM7939/97-12.
Leutnant Herfried Körner from 6./JG 27 claimed one P-40 south-east of El Daba at 12:40 but one Bf 109 F-4 Trop. (WNr 8611) from 9./JG 27 was damaged in combat and made a forced-landing at Turbiya with 70 % damage.
12 Kittyhawks of 260 Squadron was providing top cover to six Bostons and 12 Baltimores between 13:20-14:55, attacking LG 104. The Kittyhawk pilots reported that 15 Bf 109s and MC.202s appeared 150 meters above, but Flight Sergeant James Edwards (Kittyhawk IIa FL322/V) was able to claim one MC.202 shot down, the pilot baling out, with Flying Officer G. Fallows claiming a probable Bf 109. Sergeant E. G. Hill, Flight Sergeant William Stewart and Sergeant Bryan Thomas each claimed a damaged Bf 109. 260 Squadron didn’t suffer any losses.
Spitfires of 601 Squadron had followed ten minutes later (13:30-14:35) on an offensive sweep over the Daba-Fuka area; seeing the fight underway beneath them, they dived down, Flight Lieutenant John Curry (Spitfire Vc AB345/J) also claiming a Macchi shot down. 601 Squadron didn’t suffer any losses either.

Milella ended the war with 5 biplane victories.

Claims:

Kill no.	Date	Time	Number	Type	Result	Plane type	Serial no.	Locality	Unit
	193?
1	??/??/3?		1	Enemy aircraft	Destroyed	Fiat CR.32		SCW	25a Squadriglia
2	??/??/3?		1	Enemy aircraft	Destroyed	Fiat CR.32		SCW	25a Squadriglia
3	??/??/3?		1	Enemy aircraft	Destroyed	Fiat CR.32		SCW	25a Squadriglia
4	??/??/3?		1	Enemy aircraft	Destroyed	Fiat CR.32		SCW	25a Squadriglia
	1940
	09/12/40	15:10-16:50	1/10	Hurricane (a)	Shared destroyed	Fiat CR.42		Buq-Buq	366a Squadriglia
	1941
5	01/01/41	13:20-14:20	1	Blenheim (b)	Destroyed	Fiat CR.42		Derna area	366a Squadriglia
	01/01/41	13:20-14:20	1	Blenheim (b)	Probable	Fiat CR.42		Derna area	366a Squadriglia
	02/02/41	-16:40	1	Blenheim (c)	Shared damaged	Fiat CR.42		Berta-Slonta area	366a Squadriglia
	1942
	20/10/42	15:15-16:30	1/4	Boston	Shared destroyed	MC.202		Fuka	96a Squadriglia

Biplane victories: 5 and 1 shared destroyed, 1 probable, 1 shared damaged.
TOTAL: 5 and 2 shared destroyed, 1 probable, 1 shared damaged.
(a) Probably claimed in combat between 9^o and 151^o Gruppi and 33 and 274 Squadrons. 9^o Gruppo claimed eight shot down, three probables and several damaged while losing two CR.42s and four force-landed. The 151^o Gruppo claimed one Hurricane without losses. 33 and 274 Squadrons claimed seven or eight CR.42s and three probables while one Hurricane (33 Squadron) had to force-land and a second (274 Squadron) was damaged.
(b) Nine Blenheims probably from 113 Squadron attacked alone. Five of them were damaged.
(c) Probably Blenheim from 55 Squadron flown by Flight Lieutenant Smith, who force-landed at Gazala.

Sources:
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
Assi Italiani Della Caccia 1936-1945 - 1999 Aerofan no. 69 apr.-giu. 1999
Desert Prelude: Early clashes June-November 1940 - Håkan Gustavsson and Ludovico Slongo, 2010 MMP books, ISBN 978-83-89450-52-4
Desert Prelude: Operation Compass - Håkan Gustavsson and Ludovico Slongo, 2011 MMP books, ISBN 978-83-61421-18-4
Elenco Nominativo dei Militari dell’ A. M. Decorati al V. M. Durante it Periodo 1929 - 1945 2 Volume M - Z
Fighters over the Desert - Christopher Shores and Hans Ring, 1969 Neville Spearman Limited, London
Hurricanes over Tobruk - Brian Cull with Don Minterne, 1999 Grub Street, London, ISBN 1-902304-11-X
Additional info kindly provided by Giovanni Massimello and Ludovico Slongo.