Dear Drubery,
Always good to see you here at the good ol' Forum, Drew.
My best guess is that it
was Anderson and Rogers who actually found the battalion, i.e., noted its co-ordinates and were able to report back to squadron.
As for Goettler and Bleckley, they spotted it as well, but, owing to their crashlanding and the lateness of the hour, their findings probably arrived later than Anderson and Rogers'. This is speculation on my part, however...
The point being, we remember Goettler and Bleckley, for their story is the more impressive and dramatic; so much so, that the collective mind remembers them as being the ones who found the battalion. Yet, if I remember correctly, no such thing was claimed in their MoH citation-- they were awarded for their sacrifice, and not because their mission was successful (which it was and wasn't, depending on your point of view...).
One more point worth mentioning: the 50th Sqn suffered greatly on that fateful day of 6 Oct-- they had their mission, to find the battalion, and the facts show that they were willing to do whatever it took, "at all costs", to accomplish that mission. Goettler and Bleckley weren't their only casualties...
So, Drew, the best thing to do? Please refer to Hudson's
Hostile Skies, as it gives the best and clearest account of what transpired "that flaming Sunday afternoon..."
(In a recent posting, about a "'Lost' Battalion" website, I noted the incredible lengths and efforts man will go to in order to save his fellow man).
VBR, and my regards to your better half,
Captain Lewis