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blink-182 made sure to show their support for Taylor Swift despite their shows facing off with competing dates in Sydney amid their Australian tours.

The American pop-punk band and the global megastar, 34, both performed at neighbouring shows in Sydney in a scheduling clash last Friday and Saturday night.

While Taylor took to the stage at the Accor Stadium for her first two of four shows, blink-182 performed just next door at the Qudos Bank Arena.

Mark Hoppus briefly nipped over to the Accor Stadium as he trolled Swifties as they entered the venue, but he has since proven there is no bad blood between them.

He took to Instagram to share snaps of himself posing backstage with Taylor at her concert, while Tom DeLonge also attended Taylor’s Sunday show.

blink-182 showed their support for Taylor Swift despite their shows facing off with competing dates in Sydney (pictured: Mark Hoppus and his wife Skye with Taylor)

But Travis Barker did not appear to have attended any of her shows, amid Taylor’s long-running feud with his wife Kourtney Kardashian’s sister Kim.

Kourtney has previously weighed in and firmly sided with her sister when the dispute first kicked off over Kanye West’s 2016 song including vulgar lyrics about the star.

However, blink-182’s Mark and Tom proved there was no tension as they both took to social media to gush over Taylor amid her sell-out Sydney Eras tour concerts.

Despite their clashing shows, the pair both took the time to support Taylor while they were all in the same city, and shared snaps to Instagram from the occasion.

Mark, 51, shared a selfie of himself and his wife Skye Everly grinning for a snap with Taylor, who was dressed in her on-stage glitzy gold leotard, backstage.

The trio also all wrapped their arms around each other as they smiled for the cameras, with Taylor looking ready to go on stage in her sparkling outfit.

Proving their was no bad blood, he took to Instagram to share snaps of himself posing backstage with Taylor at her concert alongside his wife Skye

Last week, Tom had headed over to the Accor Stadium to jokingly troll Swifties for not attending blink-182’s concert next door instead.

In the video, shared to Instagram, the punk rocker said: ‘I’m about to go on stage and I’m really disappointed in everybody here because this is the Taylor Swift show.’

He then filmed some of Taylor’s fans as he playfully called out to them: ‘You should have gone to see Blink! Could’ve seen Blink 182 tonight. Just saying.’

Many Swifties did not notice Mark, but the few that did looked perplexed or amused by his outburst.

Meanwhile, his bandmate Tom, 48, took to Instagram to reveal that he had been in the crowds at Taylor’s Eras show on Sunday – after blink-182’s Sydney gigs came to a close on Saturday night.

He shared a snap of himself posing with comedian Rebel Wilson as they stood in the crowds ahead of the concert, with Tom showing his support for her Eras tour – which wrapped up in Australia on Monday night.

Tom DeLonge also attended Taylor’s show on Sunday alongside Rebel Wilson after blink-182 wrapped up their own two-night run of shows in Sydney

Ahead of their shows kicking off, Mark also took to Instagram to share a playful post of himself and Tom grinning alongside Taylor in an edited snap, though Travis wasn’t featured

Ahead of their shows kicking off, Mark also took to Instagram to share a playful post of himself and Tom grinning alongside Taylor in an edited snap, though Travis wasn’t featured.

With the Sydney Opera House superimposed in the background, they joked in a caption of their clashing shows: ‘We are definitely definitely definitely getting back together.’

blink-182 have previously covered Taylor’s smash hit We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, putting their own punk spin on the pop anthem.

Taylor recently reignited her feud with Kardashians star Kim as she slammed her for ‘taking her down psychologically’ in a TIME interview in December.

Their long-running feud started when Kim’s then-husband Kanye West wrote a 2016 song to include vulgar lyrics about the rising star.

The American pop-punk band and the global megastar (pictured), 34, both performed at neighbouring shows in Sydney in a scheduling clash last Friday and Saturday night

Travis Barker (pictured with Kourtney) did not appear to have attended any of her shows, amid Taylor’s long-running feud with his wife Kourtney Kardashian’s sister Kim

He claimed Taylor had consented to the reference but, after denying it, Kim weighed in and released what the pop star described as ‘an illegally recorded phone call’ between the pair which she claimed proved otherwise.

At the time, Kim’s sister Kourtney – who is married to blink-182 drummer Travis – weighed in and firmly side with her sibling amid the drama.

She told Cosmopolitan in 2016: ‘It’s her husband, and he’s family. The truth is the truth, so why not let it be known?’

In her recent TIME interview, Taylor said that the public fallout said it felt like ‘a career death,’ adding: ‘Make no mistake — my career was taken away from me.’

Discussing the aftermath and the brutal toll that it took on her well-being, Taylor told the outlet: ‘You have a fully manufactured frame job, in an illegally recorded phone call, which Kim Kardashian edited and then put out to say to everyone that I was a liar.

Their long-running feud started when Kim’s then-husband Kanye West wrote a 2016 song to include vulgar lyrics about the rising star, and Kourtney has previously weighed in on the row

‘That took me down psychologically to a place I’ve never been before. I moved to a foreign country. I didn’t leave a rental house for a year. I was afraid to get on phone calls.’

During that period, she all but vanished from the public eye, something that she says came as a result of the Kardashian and West fallout.

‘I pushed away most people in my life because I didn’t trust anyone anymore. I went down really, really hard.’

Most of the pop icon’s next album Reputation, released in 2017, was aimed at her experience during the ordeal.

One very lucky family got the chance to meet Taylor Swift and pose for photos with the megastar after one of performances in Sydney last week.

The memorable moment was a dream come true for chef and nutritionist Zoe Bingley-Pullin, who shared videos and photos from backstage at the sold-out concert with her 31,800 Instagram followers earlier this week.

Zoe posted a photo of her and her family posing the American singer backstage in front of a grey brick wall.

The Cruel Summer songstress wore casual clothing, including a pink T-shirt and black denim shorts, after belting out hits from her 10-album discography for three and a half hours onstage.

Her stage makeup was also stripped back, and her hair appeared sweaty after the marathon 44-song extravaganza.

Zoe Bingley-Pullin and her family got the chance to meet Taylor Swift and pose for photos with the megastar after one of performances in Sydney last week

‘Such a magical night meeting the incredibly talented and kind-hearted Taylor Swift!‘ Zoe captioned her post.

‘Grateful for unforgettable moments with my daughter and what a brilliant role model she is.’

Fans in the comments were shocked how Zoe and her family managed to score access to the Grammy-winning singer.

The mother revealed ‘a lovely friend’ organised the meet and greet as part of her daughter’s birthday gift.

‘How wonderful! She really is the most amazing, shining example to us all. I love her kindness and the joy she brings,’ one fan commented.

The Cruel Summer songstress wore casual clothing, including a pink T-shirt and black denim shorts, after belting out hits from her 10-album discography for three and a half hours onstage. Her stage makeup was also stripped back, and her hair appeared sweaty after the marathon 44-song extravaganza

Taylor wrapped up the Australian leg of her Eras tour on Monday after playing to more than 600,000 fans across Melbourne and Sydney. Pictured: Taylor Swift performing in Melbourne

‘How fabulous lucky girl,’ added another.

Taylor wrapped up the Australian leg of her Eras tour on Monday after playing to more than 600,000 fans across Melbourne and Sydney.

A record-breaking 96,000 fans attended each of her three nights in Melbourne, while Sydney attracted a further 83,000 Swifties at each of her four shows.

The pop sensation reportedly earned $25million per Sydney show.

Taylor also injected a whopping $145m into the NSW economy, as thousands of local and interstate fans flocked to the city for the must-see event of the year.

She is now in Singapore for three concerts on March 2, 3 and 4.

Taylor Swift emotional at Aussie fan’s sweet gesture during her song

A record-breaking 96,000 fans attended each of her three nights in Melbourne, while Sydney attracted a further 83,000 Swifties at each of her four shows. Pictured: Taylor Swift performing in Melbourne

The mother who was invited by Taylor Swift’s dad to join the VIP tent has spoken out about the heartwarming moment.

The touching gesture occurred at Swift’s final Sydney concert on Monday – just hours before Scott ‘Papa’ Swift allegedly assaulted a local photographer.

Central Coast local Katie Patching was seated in a restricted view section with her three daughters aged four, six and 13.

The mother told Triple M’s Paddy & Maz that she had to hold her two youngest daughters by her hip because they could not see the singer: ‘I just had to chuck them on my hip because they couldn’t see anything,’.

‘Security just came over to us and said, “Do you want to come into VIP with Scott Swift?” It didn’t really register to be honest. I was just so focused on the stage,’ she shared.

The mother who was invited by Taylor Swift’s dad to join the VIP tent has spoken out about the heartwarming moment

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The mother of three revealed she burst into tears when Scott approached, praising the ‘sweet’ man: ‘They were so lovely. Like, Scott even was moving the seats forward to the front of the barrier for the girls, so they could be as close as possible.’

Katie told the radio hosts that Sabrina Carpenter was also present in the VIP section prompting her 13-year-old to ‘freak out’.

‘It’s something we will never forget. This is something we’ll be talking about in twenty years when the girls are older’.

The touching gesture occurred at Swift’s final Sydney concert on Monday – just hours before Scott ‘Papa’ Swift allegedly assaulted a local photographer

A TikTok Swiftie posted the clip to the platform, which shows Scott in the foreground of a packed crowd, chatting to security and then pointing out to the young mother and her kids.

The security guards then approached the mother and escorted her into the VIP section, on the orders of Swift.

Swifties praised Scott’s extraordinary act of kindness online.

‘No words for how awesome Scott Swift is,’ one fan gushed and a second person added: ‘I started crying. What a deserving mum.’

The mother of three revealed she burst into tears when Scott approached, praising the ‘sweet’ man: ‘They were so lovely. Like, Scott even was moving the seats forward to the front of the barrier for the girls, so they could be as close as possible,’

A TikTok Swiftie posted the clip to the platform, which shows Scott in the foreground of a packed crowd, chatting to security and then pointing out to the young mother and her kids

Mahomes was caught by the NFL

Patrick MahomesAP

Patrick Mahomes, quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, could not escape being caught by the NFL due to his speed in running the 40 yards.

As a very bad idea, Mahomes took to social media and asked NFL Network to stop using his 40-yard dash from the 2017NFL Scouting Combine and the exact opposite happened. Patrick only succeeded in drawing even more attention to the moment he sought to hide.

The NFL posted the video on its social media, comparing the 40-yard dash of Patrick Mahomes and Braden Fiske, a college defensive tackle who plays for Florida State Seminoles who weighs 297 pounds.

The league super-positioned the players in the same clip and Braden outperformed Mahomes. The Florida State defensive tackle ran the 40-yard dash in 4.78 seconds on Thursday. While Mahomes did it in 4.8 seconds. He also added 366-pound Texas Longhorns lineman T’Vondre Sweat running the sprint in 5.27 seconds in the video.

Mahomes, a three-time Super Bowl winner all with the Chiefs, surely had a somewhat embarrassing time, but he is preparing for the upcoming NFL season while enjoying family time.

By naming Aaron Judge the 2023 Roberto Clemente Award winner, MLB recognized that Judge’s extraordinary contributions go even deeper than his homers.

When Judge traveled to Arizona to accept his award during the 2023 World Series, five past honorees were there to welcome him into a most exalted fraternity. Of the 54 Clemente Award winners, 21 are in the Baseball Hall of Fame, with others sure to join them. But their collective contributions to society outweigh even their greatest on-field achievements. (Photo Credit: MLB Photos)

Perhaps Aaron Judge should not have been surprised to learn that he had been named the recipient of Major League Baseball’s most prestigious individual honor, the 2023 Roberto Clemente Award.

Bestowed annually since 1971, when Willie Mays was named winner of the inaugural “Commissioner’s Award,” the Clemente Award recognizes the player who best represents the game on and off the field. Every year, each team nominates one of its own who exhibits extraordinary character, community involvement and philanthropy and positive contributions on the diamond.

Judge’s baseball accomplishments have already secured his place in Yankees lore. In 2022, he broke Roger Maris’ 61-year-old American League record by blasting 62 home runs. The five-time All-Star won his first AL MVP Award after that season, and he was named the 16th captain in Yankees history shortly thereafter.

But for as long as Judge has been impressing onlookers with his play, he has quietly carried himself in a way befitting of a Yankees captain and a Clemente Award winner. In college, Judge capped off the 2012 summer in the Cape Cod Baseball League by earning the Brewster Whitecaps’ Citizenship Award for being a positive team member. He dreamed of following in the footsteps of Major Leaguers such as Dave Winfield, Derek Jeter and CC Sabathia, who started their own charitable foundations. After reaching the Majors and earning 2017 AL Rookie of the Year honors, he huddled with his parents and laid the groundwork for the Aaron Judge All Rise Foundation, whose mission has been to inspire young people to become responsible citizens and future leaders.

Judge has embodied everything that Clemente stood for and was honored to be nominated for the award last September, but he never imagined what it would be like to win it. So, he was caught off guard when, a couple weeks after the 2023 regular season ended, he received a phone call from Yankees vice president of communications and media relations Jason Zillo, who asked the star outfielder if he was sitting down for the news he was about to hear.

“I’m like, ‘Is there a trade going on or something? Is something happening?’” Judge recalled. “He said, ‘You won the Roberto Clemente Award.’

“I was speechless.”

Judge shared that conversation during a press conference held in Arizona prior to Game 3 of the 2023 World Series. At Chase Field to help celebrate the newest Clemente Award winner were Commissioner Rob Manfred; Roberto Clemente’s sons, Luis Clemente and Roberto Clemente Jr.; and previous Clemente Award winners Jeter, Albert Pujols, David Ortiz, Harold Reynolds and John Smoltz.

“We talk about the Clemente Award being our highest honor,” Manfred said. “It is our highest honor, because it represents the combination of on-field excellence and service in our communities.

“Aaron, you are, like so many of your fellow players, a real credit to our game.”

Manfred highlighted some of the ways in which Judge has made an impact, from hosting Make-A-Wish kids at Yankee Stadium to conducting youth baseball and softball clinics to supporting the movement to make social media a more positive environment. The Commissioner was only scratching the surface, though. Spend some time exploring the All Rise Foundation’s website, or watching Judge interact with fans wherever he goes, or listening to the people in his orbit. What becomes evident is that helping others isn’t something he does — it’s who he is.

“I’ve never seen a gala like this. This is incredible.”

Judge smiled broadly as his mother, Patty Judge, handed him an oversized gavel, which he hoisted over his shoulder like a baseball bat, much to the amusement of the hundreds of people gathered at Cipriani Wall Street in January for the foundation’s biggest fundraising event of the year. In attendance were familiar faces from nearly every stop along Judge’s journey — Yankees teammates, college coaches, apparel partners, childhood friends — all eager to support the foundation’s mission. Bidding on items such as a game of HORSE with Shaquille O’Neal, guests raised nearly $800,000 that will go toward initiatives such as All Rise’s mini-grant program, which has provided financial aid to more than two dozen community-based organizations in his home state of California and New York City.

Not long after Judge reached the Majors, he and his mother, Patty, launched the All Rise Foundation, which has impacted the lives of countless youth in myriad ways. Winning the 2023 Roberto Clemente Award gave them further inspiration to keep going. “Roberto’s legacy provides a path for us as an organization to emulate and learn from as we continue to grow,” said Patty Judge. (Photo Credit: New York Yankees)

But even those who lost out on auction items gained a deeper understanding of what makes Judge tick. Sharply dressed in a blue pinstriped suit, Judge spoke to the crowd about the importance of giving back in ways that have nothing to do with money.

“Every day we wake up, we’re gifted with a new opportunity: time,” he said. “I’ve learned over the years, time is the greatest item you could ever give or receive because it can’t be bought, you can’t take it back, and you never know how much of it you have left. When you guys reflect on your most impactful moment in your life, I’m sure it involves someone who paused and just poured a little bit of time into you. Whether it be a child learning a new skill or an adult sharing a moment of wisdom, passing on some knowledge, the currency of time is invaluable.

“I believe by providing kids with the right tools, opportunities and time, we’re setting them up to become the best version of themselves: better friends, better family members, better employers and employees. And, ultimately, better people in our community. Through the All Rise Foundation and our programs, we strive to achieve the legacy that will live long after I’m done on the baseball field.”

TAMPA, Fla. — The New York Yankees didn’t want to do it. As they worked with the San Diego Padres on permutations of the trade that would eventually net them star right fielder Juan Soto, they tried clutching onto Michael King, who had been so valuable to them in so many ways in recent years.

The problem: The Padres dreamed of the right-hander becoming a potentially high-impact, low-cost member of their paper-thin rotation. Eventually, the Yankees acquiesced and sent King packing.

So, what’s their plan to replace him?

“I don’t know,” manager Aaron Boone said not long after spring training began.

King, 28, was projected to be part of the Yankees’ rotation. They have enough to cover his spot — even as Blake Snell rumors persist, regardless of how unlikely it is a deal happens.

But perhaps the biggest place where the Yankees will feel King’s absence will be in the bullpen, where they deployed him as a multi-inning threat, capable of halting rallies or finishing games. In 26 of his 40 relief appearances last season, he worked four outs or more.

In fact, King’s contributions extended further. In 2022, he pitched to a 2.29 ERA in 34 appearances before breaking his elbow while throwing a slider vs. the Orioles in late July. The injury ended his season.

He came back just as strong in 2023. In 41 games before joining the rotation for good, he had a 3.26 ERA. While King took off as starter (1.88 ERA, 8 starts) to end the year, there were going to be questions of how they would replace him in the bullpen this season regardless. And that was before they included bulk arms Randy Vásquez and Jhony Brito in the deal for Soto. (The Yankees also sent catcher Kyle Higashioka and prospect Drew Thorpe to San Diego.)

“That’s a tough one to replace,” reliever Ron Marinaccio said. “To have someone that has a true starter pitch package, who truly could stay in the game as long as you need him to — it’s not like him seeing a batter the second time through is going to be much different than the first time for him. He can just give them a different look. And also the ability to just be a true lockdown seventh- or eighth-inning or ninth-inning guy if he needs to. He had that next gear if he needed to run it up to 98 mph if he needed to. It’s impressive.”

In January, the ZiPS projection system forecast the Yankees’ bullpen at 2.6 fWAR in 2024 — down from the 4.2 projection it had heading into 2023. That was before the Yankees acquired lefty Caleb Ferguson (ZiPS-projected 0.7 fWAR) from the Los Angeles Dodgers. The bullpen appears to have plenty of upside, especially in the back end with the proven Clay Holmes (2.86 ERA, 66 games). But fellow late-inning candidates Tommy Kahnle (2.66 ERA, 42 games) and Jonathan Loaisiga (3.06 ERA, 17 games) each were injured for large swaths of last season. And while Boone has championed the depth of the team’s non-roster invitee list, the team figures to cycle through arms in late spring and early in the regular season until they find a middle-innings crew that sticks.

Boone had an early suggestion for who could fill King’s role: Righty Ian Hamilton.

“Those are the conversations we’re having now,” the manager said. “Who do we want to build up in that one-plus, two(-inning role)? Kinger is a little bit of a unicorn in that we were going sometimes three (innings), 50 pitches in high leverage when it was his day.

“I don’t know if we’ll get anyone built up to that level.”

Hamilton, 28, was a revelation for the Yankees last year. In 39 appearances, he had a 2.64 ERA, striking out 10.7 batters per nine innings while walking 4.0. It was the most games he’d thrown in the majors since he appeared in 10 contests in 2018 for the Chicago White Sox. Last season, Hamilton worked at least four outs 20 times.

Hamilton said the Yankees haven’t told him to expect any particular role this season.

“Whatever will keep me in the bullpen or anything,” he said. “Probably similar to last year. Just be ready for whatever and get some outs whenever that is.”

Hamilton said the role King held “was not easy.”

“Especially doing that damn near every time there’s no one out and with runners on,” he said. “He’s a big dude, and those are big shoes to fill. I don’t think you can replace him, but you can definitely try to fill other roles, and see who can fit roles the best.”

Boone also mentioned that righties Luke Weaver and Loaisiga and lefty Ferguson each could work multi-inning roles. The Yankees have discussed using Loaisiga in extended relief appearances and on a semi-schedule to keep him healthy.

“Hopefully,” Boone said, “we develop one-plus or two options.”

Right now, the Yankees can’t do much more than hope to figure it out, considering how important King had become to them.

Elle King’s ‘drunk and horrible’ Dolly Parton tribute faces backlash from fans as Opry apologises

Elle King performs her Dolly Parton tribute. Picture: TikTok/Getty

A celebration of Dolly Parton’s 78th birthday turned into an unexpected and controversial event during the Opry Goes Dolly show at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium.

The night took an unexpected turn when Elle King, one of the performers on the bill, delivered a performance that left fans shocked and the Opry issuing an apology.

King, known for her energetic and soulful performances, seemed to struggle through the lyrics of Dolly Parton’s 2001 song ‘Marry Me’. The situation escalated when she openly admitted to the audience that she had consumed a bit too much before taking the stage.

Amidst her stumbling performance, King humorously pleaded with the crowd not to inform Dolly Parton about the mishap.

“Don’t tell Dolly. Holy s**t. I swear to God if you guys tell Dolly,” King exclaimed during her set, as captured in fan-filmed videos circulating on TikTok.

The performance continued with King’s expletive-laden banter, where she addressed the audience’s reaction, expressing disbelief that people had paid for tickets to witness her struggling performance. The tension in the room rose as King declared, “You ain’t getting your money back.”

“I’m gonna tell you one thing more: Hi, my name is Elle King. I’m f**king hammered,” she announced, acknowledging her state.

In an attempt to lighten the mood, King’s backing vocalist joined the banter, making jokes about celebrating Parton’s birthday with a bottle and suggesting a pivot to perform one of King’s own songs.

Post-show, social media erupted with outrage from fans who deemed King’s performance disrespectful to Dolly Parton and a violation of the Opry’s code of conduct. One audience member described it as “horrible, drunken and profane”, and that it had “ruined the night.”

@countrycentral

Elle King drunk on stage during Dolly Parton tribute. The Opry has since apologized on Twitter. #elleking #dollyparton #countrymusic

♬ original sound – Country Central

The Grand Ole Opry, responding to a tagged complaint on social media, issued an apology for the language used during the second Opry performance.

“We deeply regret and apologize for the language that was used during last night’s second Opry performance,” the Opry stated.

I wish she would’ve been there because Elle King ruined the night with her horrible, drunk, and profane performance. Dolly Parton would’ve been mortified. For our first time at The Opry, it was a shame we all had to witness that.

— Judas Belmont (@JudasBellmont) January 20, 2024

But let me just say this, it wouldn’t be the first time a Hillbilly went on the stage of the Opry “hammered” but I guess it’s ok if you’re a male but good lord don’t ever let a girl behave that way folks! Double fucking standard if ya ask me. So the Opry is apologizing! Lol

— Stella Parton (@StellaParton) January 22, 2024

To any lil ego thinking they can learn the lyrics correctly with a half assed listen to one of Dolly’s song. Surprise! You’ll end up looking as silly as that lil girl. Do your homework people. Memorize the lyrics to Jolene or COMC. My sister loves words. A brilliant word smith.

While Dolly Parton has not publicly addressed the incident, her sister, Stella Parton, took to Twitter to defend Elle King. Stella pointed out a perceived double standard, mentioning that it wouldn’t be the first time a performer went on stage “hammered” at the Opry.

She also emphasized the difficulty of memorizing Dolly Parton’s intricate lyrics and suggested that those criticizing King would likely face similar challenges.

Dolly Parton interview: 40 years of Islands in the Stream and writing ‘Jolene’

“It wouldn’t be the first time a Hillbilly went on the stage of the Opry ‘hammered,’ but I guess it’s ok if you’re a male but good lord don’t ever let a girl behave that way folks!” Stella wrote in a three-part tweet, highlighting the disparities in expectations.

Despite the controversy, Elle King’s intoxicated performance at the Opry Goes Dolly show has sparked a broader conversation about gender expectations, artistic expression, and the challenges of paying tribute to an icon like Dolly Parton on a grand stage.

Boeing B-17 Bomber – The Flying Fortress

One of the most heavily armed bomber aircraft produced, the Flying Fortress was used extensively by the US Army Air Force during the Second World War and became an iconic symbol of the Allies success in the war.

First developed by the Boeing company in 1935, it would serve with Allied forces up until the end of the conflict. The B-17 was responsible for one of the greatest amount of bombs of any aircraft dropped in the war and also paved the way for technological advancement with aircraft air defences.

Development of the Flying Fortress

The origins of the B-17 began in 1934 when the former United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) sent out a proposal for a new bomber aircraft that could carry a substantial payload at an altitude of 10,000 ft and be flown at a speed of at least 200 miles per hour.

Boeing XB-17 also known as the Model 299.

Flying Fortress

The proposal was also intended as a competition between what Boeing, Douglas and Martin aircraft manufacturers could produce.

At the Boeing plant in Seattle, the design process for the new bomber was spearheaded by designers E. Gifford Emory and Edward Curtis Wells. The initial prototype was named Model 299 and was intended to feature five defensive machine gun turrets and carry a payload of up to 4,800 lb bombs in a bay located behind the cockpit.

The machine gun turret mounted in the nose was considered innovative by allowing the gunner to fire at all forward-facing angles.

The 229’s wingspan totalled 103 ft and it was powered by 1,200 hp Wright R-1820 radial engines.

Boeing also intended their new plane to be the first that could still fly and function in the air in the event of one of its engines failing.

The Model 299 was sleek and heavily armed for a bomber at the time and the platform quickly evolved.

Testing the Flying Fortress

The Model 299 completed its first flight in July 1935. It was a local reporter for The Seattle Times who first described the prototype as looking like a Flying Fortress when describing the number of machine turrets fitted to the plane. Boeing realized the marketing potential of the name and it remained.

In August 1935, the Flying Fortress made a second test flight from Seattle to Wright Field in nine hours and saw an average cruising speed of 252 miles per hour, a faster average speed than the competition designs proposed by Douglas and Martin. Major General Frank Maxwell Andrews of the USAAC approved Boeing’s design based on its performance

In October 1935, Boeing wanted to test the climb rate of the prototype, however, it crashed shortly after takeoff, killing its crew and disqualifying it from the competition.

Unfortunately, the Model 299 met an untimely end, killing the crew.

The cause of the crash was found not to be with the aircraft’s design itself, but the crew not removing gust locks fitted to the plane before takeoff. As a result, the accident inspired mandatory checklist procedures for all pilots to follow before takeoff.

Although the Flying Fortress was deemed safe to fly, the USAAC held reservations about the cost of the aircraft units but agreed to order thirteen units of the new bomber in 1936.

The B-17 proved reliable in service, even with reservations about its price, and the USAAC stepped up its orders with 155 B-17 units being delivered between 1937 and 1941. Following Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, production and orders were sped up and the B-17 soon broke the record for the fastest production output of a bomber aircraft.

The YB-17 was another prototype before full production of the Flying Fortress commenced.

As the B-17 was put into combat, Boeing continued to update and modify the design. Later models replaced the number of guns from seven to thirteen, giving it improved defence capabilities. In the latter stages of the war, the B-17 was fitted with revolutionary technology, including remote-controlled gun turrets, radio controls and precision-guided bombs and missiles.

Overall production numbers totalled out at around 12,000 units.

Flying Fortress RAF Service

The B-17 first saw its first frontline service with the Royal Air Force in 1941. At the outbreak of the Second World War, the RAF bomber fleet had mostly consisted of twin-engine, medium-range bomber aircraft.

Although larger, heavy-weight bombers such as the Handley Page Halifax and the Short Stirling were under development, the RAF bought 20 B-17 units from the USAAC.

Although the RAF had bombers such as the Halifax, 20 B-17s were purchased.

The RAF began using the B-17 against targets in Germany in July 1941. Although the Flying Fortress was an advanced bomber, the RAF lost eight of its Flying Fortresses during initial operations and aircrews also complained of technical problems with the aircraft. The raids ultimately ceased after daylight bombing was deemed too risky.

However, the initial problems demonstrated to Boeing where improvements could be made and the B-17’s defences were redesigned and improved as a result.

The RAF redirected many of its B-17s from bombing roles to coastal patrol and reconnaissance missions. Perhaps most notably, the RAF formed the No. 233 Squadron for electronic warfare and the B-17 was used extensively in this role.

The RAF did not initially find success with the Flying Fortress and they were diverted to coastal patrol and recon missions.

The B-17 would accompany bombers on their missions and use electronic equipment to jam or interfere with radio communications between Luftwaffe fighters and ground control.

Flying Fortress in US Service

In 1941, the USAAC was renamed the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) and the B-17 played an important role in bombing campaigns for the USAAF in all theatres of the war.

The Flying Fortress was critical in daylight bombing raids. The incredibly brave crews would fly straight into enemy flak to reach their targets.

In May 1942, USAAF bombers arrived in England and formed the 97^th Bomb Group based at RAF High Wycombe. The arrival of the B-17 forces helped to ease RAF misgivings about the earlier performance of the aircraft after successful bombing campaigns took place against railways in occupied Northern France in August 1942, in which no aircraft were lost.

However, as Flying Fortress raids against occupied Europe and Germany increased, the Luftwaffe stepped up its air defence campaigns against Allied bombers, resulting in mounting losses for the USAAF.

In contrast to other Allied air forces, the USAAF believed that a large number of heavily armed bombers would hold their own against attacking Luftwaffe aircraft despite evidence from RAF and Luftwaffe raids showing that unescorted bombers performing daylight raids were incredibly vulnerable.

The Flying Fortress was tough and even this heavily damaged B-17F was able to land safely.

The bomber played a crucial role in the Allied Combined Bomber Offensive (CBO) from January 1943 onwards. A raid over Schweinfurt in October 1943 became known as “Black Thursday” as sixty B-17 bombers were shot down during the mission.

Learning from the incident and knowing it was not sustainable to be losing vast numbers of aircraft and crews, B17 squadrons were escorted over Germany by the P-51 Mustang and the P-47 Thunderbolt fighter aircraft.

The combined power of the bombing abilities of the B-17 and the speed of the escorting Mustang fighters caused significant damage to both the Nazi war effort on the ground and the Luftwaffe fighters sent to attack the large formations.

Flak damage completely destroyed the nose section of this Boeing B-17G, a 398th Bomb Group aircraft.

As such, both aircraft were credited with helping Allied forces gain total air superiority over Europe.

The Flying Fortress also saw action against the Axis powers in the Pacific Theatre and was first deployed as a reconnaissance aircraft in the Philippines in December 1941.

As a bomber, the B-17 initially saw a mixed performance in combat over the Pacific. At the Battle of Midway, aircrews were instructed to fly their planes at a high altitude to avoid interception and attacks from Japanese A6M Zero fighters. However, bombing from such a height meant a majority of crews were unable to hit their intended targets.

A B17 bomber stream.

The Flying Fortress saw some success during the Battle of the Bismark Sea in March 1943 and joined forces with aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force and successfully sunk a number of Japanese troop-carrying ships.

By 1943, the USAAF decided that the B-17 was more suited to use in European airspace and was kept mainly as a search and rescue aircraft in the pacific.

Where was the B17 bomber built

The B-17 bomber, was primarily built by Boeing at their factory in Seattle, Washington, USA. The production of B-17 bombers began in the late 1930s, and Boeing built a total of 6,981 B-17s during World War II.

In addition to Boeing, the B17 bomber was also produced by Douglas Aircraft Company, which built a smaller number of B-17s at their plant in Long Beach, California. However, the majority of B-17s were built by Boeing in Seattle.

After the war, some B-17 bombers were sold to foreign governments, and others were used for various civilian purposes such as aerial mapping, firefighting, and cargo transport. Today, only a few dozen B-17 bombers remain in flying condition and are operated by various organizations for historical and educational purposes.

How many bombing raids did the B17 Bomber fly

The exact number of bombing raids flown by the B-17 is difficult to determine, as they were used for a wide variety of missions, including precision bombing, area bombing, and strategic bombing.

However, it’s estimated that B17 bombers flew over 290,000 sorties during World War II, dropping around 640,000 tons of bombs on enemy targets.

B17 bombers were used in many key campaigns of the war, including the bombing of German industrial centers and military targets, as well as support for ground troops during the D-Day invasion of Normandy.

It’s worth noting that the B17 bomber was not the only aircraft used for bombing raids during World War II, and other planes such as the B-24 Liberator and the B-29 Superfortress were also used by the USAAF. However, the B17 Flying Fortress remains one of the most iconic and well-known bombers of the war.

Post-war

The end of the Second World War reduced the need for mass produced heavy bombers and the B17 was withdrawn from combat roles. The incoming jet-age further rendered high altitude propeller driven bombers obsolete in most war situations.

A QB-17 a Flying Fortress drone that would have been used for target practice.

Some units were reserved for VIP operations but from 1946 onwards began to play an important role during Operation Crossroads: the atomic bomb tests carried out by the US in the South Pacific.

The B17 was able to perform atmospheric tests to measure radiation in the air by flying close to the mushroom cloud without endangering the crew inside.

B-17 units also found use as drones or drone-tugging planes for pilots to practice air-to-air combat.

The US Coast Guard also continued to operate units of B17 and these would rescue people at sea using a special Skyhook system in which a raft or a harness would be dropped to the water with a deployable balloon attached. The person in need of rescue would release the balloon which the B17 would catch using a hook at the front of the plane.

After the war, B17s were phased out of the bomber role and were used for other purposes including Coast Guard duties.

The B-17 continued in search and rescue roles until its final retirement in 1959.

Legacy of the Flying Fortress

Despite its shaky start in RAF service, the B17 Flying Fortress played a very significant role with Allied forces in Europe and became synonymous with American air power during the war.

Pilots who flew the B-17 commended it as a dependable and sturdy aircraft. Aircrews also were known to praise the fact Boeing designed the aircraft with the protection of the men serving inside in mind. The B17 was also known to successfully return to base even after being damaged by enemy fire or suffering technical faults.

There are a few surviving flying examples of the B17 across the globe. Pictured is the B-17G ‘Sally B’. Photo credit – Colin CC BY-SA 4.0.

Today, it is estimated around 45 B17 units remain intact with four being in airworthy condition.

Perhaps the most famous example of a surviving B17 is the Memphis Belle which became the first American bomber aircraft to complete 25 bombing raids. Its story was the inspiration for the 1990 war film Memphis Belle and the original aircraft was fully restored in 2005.

Specifications of the Flying Fortress

Crew: 10: Pilot, co-pilot, navigator, bombardier/nose gunner, flight engineer/top turret gunner, radio operator, waist gunners (2), ball turret gunner, tail gunner
Length: 74 ft 4 in (22.66 m)
Wingspan: 103 ft 9 in (31.62 m)
Height: 19 ft 1 in (5.82 m)
Empty weight: 36,135 lb (16,391 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 65,500 lb (29,700 kg)
Powerplant: 4 × Wright R-1820-97 “Cyclone” turbosupercharged radial engines, 1,200 hp (895 kW) each
Maximum speed: 287 mph (462 km/h, 249 kn)
Range: 2,000 mi (3,219 km, 1,738 nmi) with 6,000 lb (2,700 kg) bombload
Service ceiling: 35,600 ft (10,850 m)
Rate of climb: 900 ft/min (4.6 m/s)

Is Reba McEntire concerned boyfriend Rex Linn has never been married?

The singer also opened up about whether she would ever tie the knot again.

When it comes to marriage, Reba McEntire says the ball is in Rex Linn’s court.

The country icon, 68, opened up about her relationship with her partner of three years, Rex Linn, on “Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen.”

 

When a pair of fans called in to the show to ask McEntire if she would ever get married again, she said, “That would be up to him.”

“I’ve been married twice, he’s never been married, so if he wants to, that’s totally up to him,” she added.

McEntire was previously married to producer and manager Narvel Blackstock for 26 years before they divorced in 2015. She was also married to Charlie Battles from 1976 to 1987.

Cohen asked McEntire if it had been a “head-scratcher” for her to learn that Linn, 66, had never been married before.

“Was it a head-scratcher? Well, yeah, kind of,” she said. “We talked it out.”

She and Linn first met in 1991 on the set of “The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw,” but it wasn’t until their paths crossed again in 2020 that romance bloomed between them.

The couple have discussed the possibility of marriage in the past.

“We’ve talked about it and giggled about it,” McEntire told “Extra” in 2021. “We thought, ‘Man, if we ever did have a ceremony, we would have to have a 2 o’clock, 4 o’clock, 6 o’clock and an 8 o’clock because we have so many friends, acquaintances and family.’”

McEntire and Linn may not call each other husband and wife, but they have adorable nicknames for each other — Linn calls McEntire “Tater Tot,” and she calls him “Sugar Tot.”

During a visit to TODAY this week, McEntire revealed the funny way her Sugar Tot’s contact details are still stored on her phone after all these years: “Rex Linn, long-distance boyfriend.”

“I haven’t changed it since 2020,” she told TODAY.com.

Reba McEntire Speaks Out on Rumors About Alleged Gwen Stefani Feud: “At First I Thought She Was Being Mean to Me”

Reba McEntire has put an end to the Gwen Stefani feud rumors.

In an interview with Extra TV, she took the opportunity to set the record straight about the alleged backstage tensions between them on The Voice.

.@Reba McEntire is shutting down rumors about her wanting to leave #TheVoice, saying she and Gwen Stefani have become "best friends"! 💕 Full interview: https://t.co/WFXlvGVG3o@monakabdi pic.twitter.com/pbQGVvmWIu

— ExtraTV (@extratv) October 10, 2023

When asked about the judge she perceives as her most significant competition, Reba offers valuable insights into the potential competitive dynamics on the show.

“Well, Niall sits to my right, so we’re always kind of sparing,” Reba tells the interviewer.

“Gwen and I have such a great time…at first she was so intimidating and I thought she was being mean to me,” she admits. “And then she said “I just want you to like me,” and I said “well that’s all you had to say,” and now we’re best friends.”

And there you have it! The supposed feud between Reba and Gwen has been officially debunked, straight from Reba herself! It’s all just friendly competition and good-natured fun on The Voice!

Season 24 of The Voice is in full swing, and as the blind auditions heat up, the friendly competition among the coaches is more intense than ever. Last season, Niall Horan joined the coaching crew and grabbed his first victory with team member Gina Miles.

Returning to the iconic red chairs are the talented and charismatic duo of John Legend and Gwen Stefani, both of whom made their mark in Season 22. And, of course, Reba McEntire is stepping into her new role as a full-time coach, making her much-anticipated debut this season. This promises yet another season brimming with exceptional talent and captivating performances, sprinkled with the delightful judge antics that fans adore.