Comparison of historical and contemporary aerial views of Gatwick Airport, West Sussex, UK, in the early 1940s and in 2012. The main London-Brighton railway line runs vertically down the right in both views. The site had been used as a small aerodrome since the late 1920s, and part of one runway is seen extending from centre right to lower centre. It was used by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, and decommissioned in 1946. Its expansion into the UK's second-busiest airport began in 1950, when it was chosen as an alternative to London Heathrow. It was extensively rebuilt during the late 1950s. The circular satellite pier at centre after the transition was opened in 1983. The new North Terminal, at upper centre at the end of the clip, was opened in 1988.