Also going direct to the target base was not the best course of action.
If I am leading the bombers, we rarely make course directly for the objective.
There's several good tactics to make a successful bomber mission in FSO.
1) Don't fly NOE.
2) Be sure to coordinate with all groups involved, especially your escort.
3) Don't fly faster than your escort.
4) Climb in friendly airspace if possible and take the most out of the way route you can in 60 minutes.
I'm not the best, but I have led a few of these before <S>