just a clarification
"You would expect minimum fuel flow to occur with minimum drag but this is in fact NOT the case! The speed for minimum thrust/fuel flow occurs at a slower speed where there is greater drag - which strikes me as unusual.
I've been doing a lot of research on the web and in these forums and although I can find the confirmation that it is indeed true, I can not find a reason explaining why."
Well dear if i am right .. .The Endurance speed is slightly below the Vmd "BUT THIS IS FOR PISTON ENGINE AIRCRAFT" the reason is that in Jet the thrust line is straight but in propeller the power available is a curved line and that why at the Vmd of propeller the difference between power available and power required(Drag) is not maximum rather it is maximum just behind the Vmd and in case of Jet engines the difference between drag and thrust is maximum at Vmd...
i hope it clarifies the statement which you write.. that statement is TRUE but for piston engine aircraft