Blyth Green (1) Wellington Memorial
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Nottinghamshire
Farnsfield Halifax MZ519 Memorial
Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire
Comprehensive Record
Photographs
The Memorial
This stone memorial was erected by Farnsfield Memorial Trust and dedicated on 6 July 1994. Memorial maintained by Farnsfield Memorial Trust in cooperation with the parish council. The Trust maintains the stone memorial and surrounding oak trees. The memorial is in good condition.
Type
Stone memorial
Erected By
Farnsfield Memorial Trust
Dedication Date
6 July 1994
Condition
Good
Inscription
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LocationVerified Location
Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire, Nottinghamshire
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What Happened
The only operational combat loss in the Farnsfield area. P/O Parfitt's crew had bombed V-1 launch sites that afternoon. Crossing back over Dieppe, heavy anti-aircraft fire struck the Halifax. One engine caught fire. Parfitt attempted to nurse the stricken aircraft back to base at Burn, Yorkshire, but the fire spread. Witnesses at Farnsfield saw the aircraft pass with its wing ablaze. Local belief — supported by the crash trajectory — is that the crew deliberately chose not to bail out in order to steer the aircraft away from the village. All seven were killed on impact at Riddings Farm. The youngest, Canadian bomb aimer John Godin, was 19. This was Parfitt's 23rd operational mission.
Community Connection
The crash at Riddings Farm left a deep mark on Farnsfield. The bodies of the seven crew members were recovered and laid out in the small paddock in front of the farmhouse — an image that stayed with the farmer and his family for the rest of their lives. Seven Nottinghamshire oaks were planted in a crescent to mark the spot, and two Canadian redwoods were added in memory of Pilot Officer Norman Godin, the 19-year-old Canadian bomb aimer who died far from home. In the early 1990s, two Farnsfield locals — Frank Reynolds Jr and Jack Wright — had the idea of a more permanent memorial to mark the approaching 50th anniversary of the crash. Since then, the area behind the original trees has been developed into a small copse through donations from villagers and others, maintained by the Farnsfield Memorial Trust. In a further act of remembrance, a new housing estate built in the village had its roads named after members of the crew — including Parfitt Drive, the main road into the estate — ensuring that their names remain part of everyday village life, not just inscribed on the memorial at Riddings Farm on the village outskirts.
Remembrance
At the annual Remembrance Day service in Farnsfield, in addition to a roll call of villagers who died in the Two World Wars, a special mention is made of the names of the Halifax MZ519 crew.
Aircraft & Operation Details
AccuracyAircraft Type
Handley Page Halifax Mk.III
Serial Number
MZ519
Aircraft Code
LK-U
Squadron
578 SquadronStation
RAF Burn
Date of Loss
1944-07-06
Operation Type
Operational
Target
V-1 sites, Croixdalle, France
Cause of Loss
Anti-aircraft damage over Dieppe; engine fire
Crew (7 members)
About the Crew
P/O Reginald Parfitt(age 22)Pilot
From Cardiff, Wales
Killed when Halifax MZ519 crashed at Riddings Farm, Farnsfield on his 23rd operational mission. Local witnesses saw the aircraft pass with its wing ablaze. The crew are believed to have deliberately steered the aircraft away from the village.
A 22-year-old pilot from Cardiff on his 23rd operational mission. Local belief, supported by the crash trajectory, is that Parfitt and his crew deliberately chose not to bail out in order to steer the burning aircraft away from Farnsfield village.
Sgt Raymond Albert Rolph(age 23)Flight Engineer
From Hawkwell, Essex
Killed when Halifax MZ519 crashed at Riddings Farm.
F/O Brian Grahame Turnidge(age 24)Navigator
From Bristol
Killed when Halifax MZ519 crashed at Riddings Farm.
Fl/Sgt John Joseph Godin(age 19)Air Bomber
The youngest crew member at just 19, Godin was a Canadian bomb aimer. Two Canadian redwoods were planted at the memorial site in his honour.
A 19-year-old Canadian from the RCAF, Godin was the youngest member of the crew. Two Canadian redwoods were planted at the Farnsfield memorial in his honour.
Sgt Thomas Frederick Pitts(age 21)Wireless Operator/Air Gunner
From Hale, Cheshire
Killed when Halifax MZ519 crashed at Riddings Farm.
Sgt Thomas Arthur Hill(age 22)Air Gunner
From Bilston, Staffordshire
Killed when Halifax MZ519 crashed at Riddings Farm.
Sgt Leonard Granville Leatham(age 20)Air Gunner
From Tipton, Staffordshire
Killed when Halifax MZ519 crashed at Riddings Farm.
Memorial Care
parish council
Organisation
Farnsfield Parish Council
Website
Memorial maintained by Farnsfield Memorial Trust in cooperation with the parish council. The Trust maintains the stone memorial and surrounding oak trees.
Local Contacts
These local organisations are connected to this memorial and may be able to help with information or visits.
Farnsfield & District Branch, Royal British Legionbritish legion
Annual Remembrance Sunday service at the memorial
Farnsfield Parish Councilparish council
Maintains memorial site with Farnsfield Memorial Trust
Farnsfield History Grouphistory society
Local history research and memorial documentation
Further Reading
Aircrew RememberedRetrieved 2026-03-24
Detailed crew biographies and operational history for P/O Parfitt and crew. Includes CWGC records, squadron postings, and accounts from the 578 Squadron Association.
What you'll find: Explore comprehensive crew biographies and operational histories of P/O Parfitt and team on Aircrew Remembered.
Confirms this was Parfitt's 23rd operational mission. Crew had completed training at 1660 HCU Swinderby before posting to 578 Squadron at Burn.
578 Squadron AssociationRetrieved 2026-03-22
Squadron records of the loss of Halifax MZ519 LK-U on 6 July 1944. Includes operational details of the V-1 site attack and eyewitness accounts from Farnsfield residents.
What you'll find: Detailed squadron records of Halifax MZ519's tragic loss in 1944, including V-1 site attack insights and Farnsfield resident testimonies.
Local witnesses described the aircraft passing over with its port wing fully ablaze. The crew's deliberate decision to avoid the village is corroborated by the crash trajectory.
IWM War Memorials RegisterRetrieved 2026-03-23
Imperial War Museum register entry for the Halifax MZ519 memorial at Farnsfield. Records the stone memorial dedicated on 6 July 1994, the 50th anniversary of the crash, by Air Marshal Sir John Curtis.
What you'll find: Detailed records of Halifax MZ519 Memorial at Farnsfield in this IWM War Memorials Register entry.
Memorial reference 32217. Dedicated by Air Marshal Sir John Curtis, himself a former 578 Squadron pilot. Seven Nottinghamshire oaks and two Canadian redwoods planted.
War Memorials OnlineRetrieved 2026-03-23
War Memorials Online listing for the Halifax MZ519 memorial at Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire. Documents the memorial's condition as good and provides details of the crew commemorated.
What you'll find: Detailed information about the well-preserved Halifax MZ519 Memorial in Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire on War Memorials Online.
Memorial reference 92115. Condition recorded as good. Lists all seven crew members.
Peak District Air Accident ResearchRetrieved 2026-03-23
Detailed crash investigation record for Halifax MZ519 LK-U. Documents the anti-aircraft damage sustained over Dieppe and the crew's attempt to return to RAF Burn with a spreading engine fire.
What you'll find: Explore detailed Halifax MZ519 crash investigation report: anti-aircraft damage and perilous return flight over Dieppe.
Aircraft attacked V-1 launch sites at Croixdalle. Heavily damaged by flak over Dieppe. Local witnesses saw the aircraft pass with its wing ablaze. Crash site at Riddings Farm.
Nearby Memorials
Sources
Aircrew Remembered (retrieved 2026-03-24)
578 Squadron Association (retrieved 2026-03-22)
IWM War Memorials Register (retrieved 2026-03-23)
War Memorials Online (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Peak District Air Accident Research (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Credits & Acknowledgements
Record compiled by
Keith Binley
Last updated 2026-04-09
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