When I read the thread title I just knew it was about Hombre59 somehow.
I popped in the other day to auto download skins. Saw him on and exchanged salutes.
That gravelly laugh and New York accent kept me entertained for many hours. My significant other would hear him and start laughing, too. She always knew who he was. He was probably the main reason I played for as long as I did. Friendships are a strong influence.
I own a VKB stick because of my many discussions with him about equipment options and his experience with them. I also skinned a P-51B ("El Malo Hombre") in part as a nod to him awhile back.
He could have been #1 many times over, but he would climb out and go walk his dog or get some coffee (he was always doing something random) which hurt his K/H a lot. But he never entertained tweaking that as he preferred to be a bit "realistic" in his flying style. There was not an ounce of malice in him. He simply enjoyed the fights.
A good man. During my tenure with the 325th he was the voice of reason during the occasional intra-squadron dustups. Just a fun guy all around. I'll miss him. Damn...
God be with you, Hombre59. Condolences to your family.
Lay a nickel on the grass...
