Brighton Under Attack

Brighton was never a major industrial target for enemy bombers, but its position on the south coast made it vulnerable to enemy aircraft. Some raids were aimed at local transport links and military sites, while others known as ‘tip and run’ saw German planes dropping their remaining bombs before returning across the Channel.

Wartime casualities
Between July 1940 and February 1944, Brighton was attacked on 56 recorded occasions. The raids killed 198 people, seriously injured 357 more, and damaged homes, businesses and essential services. Families found themselves living with air raid sirens, blackouts, shelters and the constant uncertainty of when the next attack might come.

Explore the different stories below to find out more about where bombs dropped, the damage they caused, and the measures Brighton took to protect its people from air raids and the threat of invasion.