FLT OF 4 MIL A10 ACFT ON CLB WITH MARSA IN EFFECT. RPTR LOSES SIGHT OF LEAD BUT CONTINUES CLB TO FL220 WITH NO ATC CONTACT.

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I WAS #4 IN FLT OF 4 MIL ACFT DEPLOYING FROM HOME STATION BTL TO DMA; WITH STOP-OVERS AT SZL AND CVS. AS I CLBED ON MY OWN IFR FLT PLAN OUT OF THE WX (TOPS APPROX 14000 FT); I CAUGHT SIGHT OF MY ELEMENT LEADER AND INFORMED HIM ON FM RADIO. DISTANCE BTWN OUR ACFT IS ESTIMATED TO BE 5 MI OR SO. ELEMENT LEADER INFORMED ZAU THAT I HAD VISUAL CONTACT; AND DECLARED 'MARSA.' AFTER ABOUT 1 MIN; AS I MOMENTARILY LOOKED AWAY TO DO A TIME/FUEL USAGE UPDATE; ELEMENT LEADER RECEIVED CLRNC; INS DIRECT TO SZL. AFTER I LOOKED UP; I COULD NO LONGER SEE LEADER. I CONTINUED TO LOOK FOR HIM FOR APPROX 8 MINS AS I CLBED TO FL220; WITH NO IFF ON AND NO IFR CLRNC (CANCELED BY MARSA). I TURNED TOWARDS SZL LATER THAN LEAD; THEN TURNED S OF HDG IN A FUTILE SEARCH FOR ELEMENT LEAD. I FINALLY INFORMED LEAD; WHO INITIATED RADIO CALLS TO ZAU; WHICH ASSIGNED ME A DISCRETE IFF AND RAPIDLY EFFECTED AN IFR JOIN-UP. I'VE BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO REALIZE THIS (MY ACTIONS) WERE VERY STUPID; VERY UNPROFESSIONAL; DISPLAYED VERY POOR JUDGEMENT IN NOT CONTACTING ELEMENT LEAD IMMEDIATELY UPON LOSS OF VISUAL CONTACT.