Wow, I have to comment on my own comment.
I haven’t thought about Captain Hank in a while. He flew heavies with AA between Laguardia and Germany for many many years. After he retired he bought that T-6, took me up a time or two. Guy was a John Wayne clone, good man, I miss that ol’ sumbish.
RIP “Red One.”
Sorry to hear about your friend. What struck me is that my grandfather also flew C-47s in CBI theater, then flew heavies for AA out of NY. (Then he moved to Texas, DFW area specifically. He bought a few planes along the way, but nothing as big as a T-6.) He was the senior pilot at AA when forced to retire. His last flight was in a 747 to Honolulu before AA got rid of them. Wonder if he knew your Captain Hank.