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John Brittan

Royal College of Military Science IT specialist found dead from carbon monoxide poisoning in his garage — had recently returned from the United States.

FieldDetails
Full NameDr. John Brittan
Bornc. 1935
DiedJanuary 12, 1987
Age at Death52
Location of DeathHis garage, England
Cause of DeathCarbon monoxide poisoning (car exhaust in enclosed garage)
Official RulingSuicide
CategorySDI/Defense Scientist

Assessment: SUSPICIOUS

Dr. Brittan was a scientist at the Royal College of Military Science engaged in top-secret MOD work who died from carbon monoxide poisoning in his garage. No documented history of depression was reported. He had recently returned from the United States, and the nature of his visit there remains unclear. His death was one of three carbon monoxide poisonings among defense scientists within a single month (February 1987 saw David Skeels and Peter Peapell die the same way).

Circumstances of Death

On January 12, 1987, Dr. John Brittan was found dead in his personal garage from carbon monoxide poisoning. His car engine had been left running in the enclosed space. The death was ruled a suicide.

Brittan had recently returned from a trip to the United States, though the purpose of his travel has not been publicly clarified. No documented history of depression or mental health issues was reported by family or colleagues.

Background

Dr. John Brittan, aged 52, was an IT specialist and scientist at the Royal College of Military Science (RCMS) in Shrivenham, Oxfordshire. RCMS was a key Ministry of Defence institution that trained military officers and conducted classified defense research. Brittan was engaged in top-secret work for the MOD.

His death occurred during the most intense phase of the GEC-Marconi scientist death cluster. Two other RCMS-connected scientists — Peter Peapell and Stuart Gooding — also died under suspicious circumstances during this period.

Why This Death Possibly Raises Questions

  • No documented history of depression or suicidal ideation
  • He had recently returned from a trip to the United States — the nature of which is unclear
  • Carbon monoxide poisoning in a garage was a method repeated across multiple defense scientist deaths in the same period (David Skeels, Peter Peapell, Trevor Knight, Andrew Hall)
  • He worked on top-secret MOD projects at the Royal College of Military Science
  • Two other RCMS-connected individuals also died suspiciously during this period
  • His death occurred during the most concentrated cluster of defense scientist deaths

See Also

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Sources

This information was built by Grok and Claude AI research.