On Sunday 17th May 1942 four Messerschmitt 109s did a ‘tip and run’ raid run on Hastings. The attackers fired their machine guns indiscriminately as they swept across town, dropped their bombs and then fled back to their base across the Channel. The four high explosive bombs dropped that day hit Falaise Road, Havelock Road and Middle Street. At Havelock Road house numbers 40 to 44 were damaged so badly they had to be demolished.
Constance Torrance, aged 28 was killed in her home by machine gun fire at 60 St Georges Road, Hastings.
The attack on that day claimed one other life, with 8 other wounded, 2 severely.