[GreyFriar]

A late friend of mine, a retired USAF Col and Master Navigator (began on B-47s), researched Flight 19 and did several navigation plots. He concluded that with the probable failure of several compasses or willful ignoring of them because the lead pilot decided not to trust his, that the lead pilot took the flight off to the north or northeast, similar to the posted graphic.

[Bonemaker]

A problem that shows up frequently in aircraft accident analysis is that in a crisis the pilot doesn't believe the instruments. The likelihood of all the planes losing their compasses at the same time is preposterous. My guess is the lead pilot became hopelessly disoriented and his wingmates dutifully followed his lead into eternity like the Thunderbirds did a few years back.

1982 Thunderbirds Indian Springs Diamond Crash