London Gatwick became an aerodrome back in the 1930s, but the airport we know today was officially opened on June 9, 1958 by Queen Elizabeth II. And since then we have seen many famous faces come through the terminals including world leaders such as US presidents John F Kennedy and Richard Nixon and Soviet premier Alexei Kosygin and sporting heroes including Muhammad Ali and Leo Messi.
Here are 27 pictures from the archives showing famous faces at London Gatwick airport.
![Australian racing driver Jack Brabham (1926 - 2014) takes off from Gatwick Airport in a twin-engined Beechcraft Queen Air plane, 5th February 1968. He is flying to Australia to take part in two races. (Photo by Jim Gray/Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjUwOWIyZjNkLTY5NzktNGRhOS05MzAwLWQ2ZWVjNjY0OTlhZDo2ZGQzNWRlNS0yOGYxLTQ1YjctODQ2Yi0xYTk1M2Q0Mzk5YjQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
13. Australian racing driver Jack Brabham
Australian racing driver Jack Brabham (1926 - 2014) takes off from Gatwick Airport in a twin-engined Beechcraft Queen Air plane, 5th February 1968. He is flying to Australia to take part in two races. (Photo by Jim Gray/Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)Photo: Jim Gray
![Cast members of TV sitcom 'The Army Game' at Gatwick Airport before leaving for Pontefract in Yorkshire, to visit the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry depot, 10th December 1960. Major Bill Cook, commanding officer of the depot, has advised the soldiers there not to watch the show. From left to right, actors Geoffrey Sumner, William Hartnell, Ted Lune, Mario Fabrizi and Harry Fowler. (Photo by Edward Miller/Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjYwMzVkNDRhLTRkYTQtNGU1Ni1iNWY4LWIwNDRiNDU3NjVlMTo0NTIxMDNlOC1iZTIyLTRiOTMtYmVlMC05ODg0MGRiMTc1NDY=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
14. Cast members of TV sitcom 'The Army Game'
Cast members of TV sitcom 'The Army Game' at Gatwick Airport before leaving for Pontefract in Yorkshire, to visit the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry depot, 10th December 1960. Major Bill Cook, commanding officer of the depot, has advised the soldiers there not to watch the show. From left to right, actors Geoffrey Sumner, William Hartnell, Ted Lune, Mario Fabrizi and Harry Fowler. (Photo by Edward Miller/Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)Photo: Edward Miller
![Franz Josef Strauss (1915 - 1988, left), the German Federal Minister of Defence, leaves his aircraft at Gatwick Airport with British Defence Minister Harold Watkinson (1910 - 1995, right), who is returning from a trip to Austria, 1st June 1962. Strauss is in the UK for a private two-day visit. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjNhYTU2ODAwLWY2NDAtNGI5My04ZDU2LTIzNzBkZDVlZTdhYjo1ZDc0N2U5Yi1jOTUyLTQ5NjgtYTc3NC1mYTgwYTZjNWEwNTQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
15. Franz Josef Strauss (1915 - 1988, left), the German Federal Minister of Defence,
Franz Josef Strauss (1915 - 1988, left), the German Federal Minister of Defence, leaves his aircraft at Gatwick Airport with British Defence Minister Harold Watkinson (1910 - 1995, right), who is returning from a trip to Austria, 1st June 1962. Strauss is in the UK for a private two-day visit. (Photo by Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)Photo: Keystone
![English airline entrepreneur Freddie Laker (1922 - 2006) abroad a BAC III on the day of its inauguration (first revenue service) at Gatwick Airport, UK, 9th April 1965. (Photo by David Cairns/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)](https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjBmZWM4M2EzLWNiYmItNDg4Mi04MWQ4LTk3OWE2NDE2NjUzNzpiN2U1YjE5NC05NWNhLTQwOWYtYjJkZC1hMmI3YjVkOTIyOTQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=640)
16. English airline entrepreneur Freddie Laker
English airline entrepreneur Freddie Laker (1922 - 2006) abroad a BAC III on the day of its inauguration (first revenue service) at Gatwick Airport, UK, 9th April 1965. (Photo by David Cairns/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)Photo: David Cairns