Originally Posted by
gerry111
Sadly, that's one aviation book I wouldn't buy.
I can completely understand that. I should make it clear I'm not seeking to glorify him or what he did - it's a story that intrigued me when I first read about it on Wikipedia and if nothing else I'm just interested to learn what went on in his head.
I have found some information online and through various museums and archives: which flight he arrived on, which court he appeared in for the Qantas ticket forgery, a few addresses, and other material but details about his family have been hard to find. It really does seem like they completely disowned him - his death certificate only gives a first initial for his mother, and the British government can't find a birth certificate for him.
A couple of PPRuNers who mentioned him have been kind enough to get back to me about their run-ins with him or relay detail about people who knew him.