ENEMY MACHINE-GUNNING (CIVILIANS). (Hansard, 10 October 1940) 10th October 1940 Captain Plugge asked the Home Secretary the number of cases of intentional and unnecessary machine-gunning of civilians by enemy air gunners which have hitherto been recorded in this country? ยงMr. Mabane Up to 15th September there were 26 recorded cases of enemy aircraft machine-gunning civilians in this country, and several cases have occurred since.
My Grandmother and uncle were both machine gunned in Hastings. I recall my grandmother telling how she had had to dive into the basement area in front of a house to avoid bullets coming up the street. 27th AA Brigade diaries record these raids in detail and often include notes about which places were machine gunned and casualties. Typically, 27th AA Brigade\WO166-7384 ROYAL ARTILLERY AA BRIGADES Headquarters 27 AA Brigade Jan-Dec 1942 It is this diary that records the locomotive that was hit and subsequently exploded bringing down the attacking fighter.
Brighton likewise, by tip-and-run raiders; for example in the raid of 25th May 1943 where it appeared to be widespread. My Dad, as I've recounted elsewhere on this forum, was strafed in the street by a 109 at some point in the war; however, he believed in hindsight it was walking its fire up the road towards a train on the Brighton-Lewes line.