Military historians may be one step closer to solving the mystery of a plane crash which killed Sutton air bomber John Trevor Bromfield.

The KL654 Liberator, which crashed in Malaysia while delivering aid to prisoner of war camps on August 23 1945, was discovered only last year.

Since then historians Joe Bamford and Arthur Lane have been trying to piece together the story of the aircraft and the eight men on board - something which will be made easier by the recent offer of help from the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

"A colleague with good contacts at the MoD is very interested in the story. Early signals show that they will be able to help us. We want a full excavation of the crash site carried out by Malaysians with some British representatives so that anything found can be returned and the men can be buried in a military ceremony," said Mr Bamford.

A photo has emerged of the men before the crash but Mr Bromfield, who they believe once lived in York Road, took the photo - making him the most mysterious member of the crew of whom no photo has been seen.

But painsaking research and an article in the Sutton Guardian last year have revealed more glitz and glamour in his life than the historians ever expected.

"We heard from a man in California who had trained with John Bromfield and we found out that he used to go out with Sally Anne Howes - who some people might remember as the very good-looking British actress," said Mr Bamford.

And just as his girlfriend achieved celebrity starring in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Bromfield too may be celebrated on screen. The historians have been approached by two film companies interesting in making a documentary on the tragic crash and the crew it took with it.