Former RAF North Pickenham

 Second World War 1939-1945, abandoned / shut down, RAF - Royal Air Force, draw only border, closed / former military

USAAF Station 143 - also former Thor Missile Base

North Pickenham airfield was opened in 1944 and was assigned USAAF designation Station 143.

492nd Bombardment Group
The group flew B-24 Liberators

491st Bombardment Group (Heavy)
The group flew B-24 Liberators

The USAAF evacuated North Pickenham in August 1945 with the airfield becoming an RAF satellite for No. 258 MU at RAF Shipdam. North Pickenham was transferred to RAF Bomber Command in March 1948 and became inactive on 26 October. In August 1949, the airfield was transferred back to Maintenance Command and became dormant.

On 1 December 1958 the base was reopened as the home for the newly reformed No. 220 Squadron RAF, equipped with Thor nuclear missiles; the squadron was deactivated in October 1963 and the missiles removed, at which point the station was officially closed.

It was later used for testing the Hawker P.1127, an experimental aircraft which would later evolve into the Hawker Siddeley Harrier

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