Vickers Wellington LP841 - Tablet
0.5 miles away
Nottinghamshire
Blyth Green (2) Halifax Memorial
Blyth Green (2), Nottinghamshire
Comprehensive Record
The Memorial
It is maintained by Blyth Parish Council.
Type
Memorial stone
Inscription
Could you help us fill in the inscription?
LocationEstimated Location
Blyth Green (2), Nottinghamshire, Nottinghamshire
what3words: ///drop.presides.cheaply
What Happened
On a test flight from RAF Tolthorpe, Halifax NA581 of 425 (Alouette) Squadron suffered engine failure and crashed near Blyth Green, Nottinghamshire, on 2 August 1944. Flight Lieutenant George Douglas Stark was in command of the aircraft. All eight men aboard were killed. Among the crew were Canadian Air Gunners Joseph Maurice Paradis, aged 29, and Joseph Rene Lariviere, aged 24. A memorial at Blyth Green commemorates the crew.
Community Connection
Every memorial has a story — why it was built, who campaigned for it, and what it means to the local community. If you know the story behind this memorial, we would love to hear it.
Share this memorial's storyRemembrance
An annual commemorative service is held on 27th April 2025.
Aircraft & Operation Details
Crew (6 members)
Memorial Care
parish council
Organisation
Blyth Parish Council
Local Contacts
These local organisations are connected to this memorial and may be able to help with information or visits.
Worksop Royal British Legionbritish legion
Local remembrance and memorial support
Blyth Parish Councilparish council
Local authority responsible for memorial upkeep
Further Reading
425 Alouette Squadron BlogRetrieved 2026-03-23
RCAF 425 (Alouette) Squadron records document Halifax NA581 as lost on 2 August 1944 during a daytime test flight from RAF Tolthorpe, when it suffered engine problems and crashed near Blyth village.
What you'll find: Detailed account of RCAF 425 (Alouette) Squadron's Halifax NA581 crash near Blyth village on August 2, 1944, following engine failure during a test flight from RAF Tolthorpe.
Daytime test flightEngine problems caused crash425 (Alouette) Squadron RCAF
Aviation Archaeology (Midlands Crashes)Retrieved 2026-03-23
Aviation Archaeology lists Halifax NA581 in its 1944 military crash records, confirming the crash near Blyth on 2 August 1944 with crew casualties including Canadian airmen P/O Pigeon and P/O Pitkin.
What you'll find: Detailed crash account with crew casualties' identities, including Canadian airmen P/O Pigeon and P/O Pitkin.
P/O John Jerome Pigeon from Stratford, Ontario killedP/O Edmund Francis Pitkin from Toronto killed
Visit Nottinghamshire (Aviation Memorials PDF)Retrieved 2026-03-23
The Nottinghamshire Aviation Memorials guide includes the Blyth village green memorial, erected 14 September 1997, which commemorates crews of both Wellington HE818 and Halifax NA581.
What you'll find: Detailed information on Blyth Green Halifax Memorial, including crew tributes and memorial unveiling particulars.
Memorial erected 14 September 1997Shared memorial covers both HE818 and NA581 crews
Nearby Memorials
Sources
425 Alouette Squadron Blog (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Aviation Archaeology (Midlands Crashes) (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Visit Nottinghamshire (Aviation Memorials PDF) (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Geograph (website)
Credits & Acknowledgements
Record compiled by
Keith Binley
Last updated 2026-03-21
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