Thor missile sites

Can anyone identify which of the 20 Thor bases the attached photo shows under construction?

I think the main clues are the layout of the airfield hangars in the background and the fact that there is a church tower a very short distance beyond them. It is also possible that the plume in the far distance (right) might be from a power station cooling tower.

Thanks,

Alan

Feltwell,?

I'd originally dismissed Feltwell but I think you're right! Looking at Google Earth there is a multi-storey brick structure just behind the centre of the 4 hangars, which I had assumed was a church! The direction of the plume is totally consistent with the Wissington sugar factory, which would probably have been operating as Feltwell approached completion in latest August or early September 1958. And with that flat horizon, you just HAVE to be looking across the Fens

And as Feltwell was first to become operational, it probably had a lot more photos taken for publicity purposes than the other 19 sites that followed.

Thanks,

Alan

My first thought was there was no runway, so likely Feltwell. The tower is I believe the water tower, which can be seen in this 80.s NARA picture

Yes the sugar beet factory makes sense

I wondered if it was a water tower - but the fake windows at the top threw me, especially as the Lakenheath/Mildenhall water towers are just raw steel structures.

Do you know of any photos from after Thor was decommissioned that show the exact location of the pads relative to features that are clearly identifiable on today's Google Earth images. It's one of those sites where all visible traces have disappeared. I understand that the golf course now covers at least one pad location.

Someone else pointed out that on the photo one can see the unmistakeable shadow of the Westland Whirlwind they must have taken the photo from

the old maps..co.uk has good coverage on the 1974 1;2500 OS sheet. There is also a lot of coverage on Thor in the members section

There are FIVE hangars in the picture, not four -- which is another point in favour of Feltwell (and against Driffield, looking southwards across the plain of Holderness) which has four,

Yes - I meant the four most visible hangars in the arc. I've now absolutely confirmed it's Feltwell and also pretty well pinned down the spot where the Whirlwind was hovering to take the photo - and the date to within a few weeks Thanks to everyone

kebecker wrote:

Feltwell,?

Agreed