[Roundway]

Too many Brians around here!

The MACRs make no mention of this - although I've no doubt there was a navigational error introduced by the element leader when he first lost contact with the two airmen over Dresden. Quoting from the MACR:

On the 29th May 1944, I was flying as second element leader in Lt Lynch's flight. We were approaching Dresden from the northwest, when we ran into some very heavy flak. We took immediate evasive action, at which time our flight became broken up. After reaching comparative calm I called Lt Lynch on the R/T and asked his course and altitude. He gave these as 160 degrees at 19000 ft. I proceeded on this course trying to rejoin Lt Lynch but after flying for 15 minutes I decided that it would be best for my wingman and myself to join the formation of big friends that I saw in the distance.

I called Lt Lynch again on the R/T and within the next ten minutes gave him three separate headings to fly at 26,400 ft, he responded to each of these transmissions. Headings were 160 degree, 220 degrees and 260 degrees, which were the bombers' course.

With the advantage of nearly 70 years hindsight it seems unwise for Johnson to have suggested these headings without knowing Lynch's position. This would seem to be where the navigational error was introduced.

One other thought; the MACR records the target was Berlin - a long way north of Dresden. So far as I can determine Berlin was not included in USAAF operations that day.

Brian (the Roundway one)