Bomber Command Memorial Register

Farnsfield Halifax MZ519 Memorial

Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire

Complete Record
Confirmed location?

Photographs

Farnsfield Halifax MZ519 memorial
Farnsfield Halifax MZ519 memorial — Source: Direct submission, Credit: Keith Binley
Memorial plaque detail
Memorial plaque detail — Source: Direct submission, Credit: Keith Binley
Memorial site at Riddings Farm
Memorial site at Riddings Farm — Source: Direct submission, Credit: Keith Binley
The memorial cross
The memorial cross — Source: Direct submission, Credit: Keith Binley
Crew names on the memorial
Crew names on the memorial — Source: Direct submission, Credit: Keith Binley
View of the memorial location
View of the memorial location — Source: Direct submission, Credit: Keith Binley
Wider view of the memorial site
Wider view of the memorial site — Source: Direct submission, Credit: Keith Binley
Halifax III MZ519 LK-U of 578 Squadron
Halifax III MZ519 LK-U of 578 Squadron — Source: Aircrew Remembered
The memorial area at Farnsfield
The memorial area at Farnsfield — Source: Aircrew Remembered
The Farnsfield memorial to the crew of MZ519
The Farnsfield memorial to the crew of MZ519 — Source: Aircrew Remembered
Farnsfield memorial from a distance
Farnsfield memorial from a distance — Source: War Memorials Online
Close view of the memorial cross
Close view of the memorial cross — Source: War Memorials Online
Memorial plaque with crew names
Memorial plaque with crew names — Source: War Memorials Online
Detail of the memorial inscription
Detail of the memorial inscription — Source: War Memorials Online
The memorial in its setting
The memorial in its setting — Source: War Memorials Online
View across the memorial site
View across the memorial site — Source: War Memorials Online
Farnsfield Halifax MZ519 memorial, Notts — view of memorial stone and surroundings
Farnsfield Halifax MZ519 memorial, Notts — view of memorial stone and surroundings — Source: Direct submission, Credit: Keith Binley
Farnsfield Halifax MZ519 memorial, Notts — detail view
Farnsfield Halifax MZ519 memorial, Notts — detail view — Source: Direct submission, Credit: Keith Binley

Location

Farnsfield, Nottinghamshire, Nottinghamshire

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Narrative

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.

Aircraft & Operation Details

578 Squadron badgeAccuracy
Aircraft Type
Handley Page Halifax Mk.III
Serial Number
MZ519
Aircraft Code
LK-U
Squadron
578 Squadron
Station
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)

RankNameRoleAgeNationalityFateBurial / Status
P/OReginald Parfitt
177439 RAFVR
Pilot22BritishKilledCardiff Cemetery (Cathays), Sec E.A., Grave 2214CWGC
SgtRaymond Albert Rolph
1645930 RAFVR
Flight Engineer23BritishKilledHawkwell Churchyard (St Mary), Grave 1066CWGC
F/OBrian Grahame Turnidge
152501 RAFVR
Navigator24BritishKilledBristol Cemetery (Canford), Sec QQ, Grave 294BCWGC
Fl/SgtJohn Joseph Godin
R/151252 RCAF
Air Bomber19CanadianKilledHarrogate Cemetery (Stonefall), Sec B, Row H, Grave 11CWGC
SgtThomas Frederick Pitts
1621271 RAFVR
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner21BritishKilledHale Cemetery, Sec K, Grave 197CWGC
SgtThomas Arthur Hill
1535267 RAFVR
Air Gunner22BritishKilledBilston Cemetery, Sec G.A., Grave 4811CWGC
SgtLeonard Granville Leatham
2220239 RAFVR
Air Gunner20BritishKilledTipton Cemetery, Sec A/E, Grave 227CWGC

About the Crew

P/O Reginald Parfitt(age 22)Pilot

From Cardiff, Wales

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

F/O Brian Grahame Turnidge(age 24)Navigator

From Bristol

Fl/Sgt John Joseph Godin(age 19)Air Bomber

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

Sgt Thomas Arthur Hill(age 22)Air Gunner

From Bilston, Staffordshire

Sgt Leonard Granville Leatham(age 20)Air Gunner

From Tipton, Staffordshire

Memorial Details

Type
Stone memorial
Erected By
Farnsfield Memorial Trust
Dedication Date
1994-07-06
Condition
Good

Memorial Care

parish council
Organisation
Farnsfield Parish Council

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

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.

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.

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.

Memorial reference 92115. Condition recorded as good. Lists all seven crew members.

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.

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.

Sources

Credits & Acknowledgements

Record compiled by
Keith Binley
Heritage 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)
Last updated 2026-04-06

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