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Project Blue Book Socorro file

The Black Vault · 167 pages · text by OCR

This Black Vault release compiles 1964 newspaper and wire service clippings plus a Project Blue Book summary on the Socorro, New Mexico sighting by policeman Lonnie Zamora on April 24, 1964, when an egg-shaped object left four depressions and burned brush. It covers J. Allen Hynek's site visit, APRO and NICAP comment, and related New Mexico reports at La Madera, Edgewood and Albuquerque. The Air Force summary reports that soil and brush analysis found no radiation or propellant, and the case remained open.

  • p. 3 …UPI) - New Mexico's perennial addiction to flying saucers has taken hold of the state again…
  • p. 4 …Sam Chavez of the New Mexico State Police. They took six other men to the spot…
  • p. 6 …sent to New Mexico after a rash of reports of sightings in the state. He planned…
  • p. 7 …shots at one of New Mexico's unidentified flying objects. State Policeman Tommy Richardson of Moriarty…
  • p. 11 …of unidentified flying object sightings had New Mexico State Police, local law enforcement agencies and military…
  • p. 13 …UPI) - New Mexico's perennial addiction to flying saucers has taken hold of the state again…
  • p. 15 …New Mexico's perennial addiction to flying saucers took hold of thae state again Monday. More…
  • p. 22 …Around State A rash of unidentified flying object sightings had New Mexico State Police, local law…
  • p. 23 …Within moments afterward, Sgt Chavez of the New Mexico State Police arrived on the scene in…
  • p. 26 …in a state loaded with radar installations. "It is my understanding that New Mexico has more…
  • p. 28 …Inhabited Since 1540 Home of the Famed New Mexico VOL. 98 NO.34 Published Tuesdays & Thursdays…
  • p. 30 …State Police Sgt. Sam Chavez, State Policeman Ted Jordan, and Undersheriff James Luckie responded. Chavez and…
  • p. 34 …The sighting was reported to Sgt Chavez of the New Mexico State Police. The object sighted…
  • p. 45 …April 1964 Sgt Chavez of the New Mexico State Police accompanied by Agent Burns of the…
  • p. 56 …Socorro, New Mexico. The object or vehicle displayed flight characteristics well within the State-of-the…
  • p. 77 …his call was monitored by Sgt Chavez of the New Mexico State Police. Sgt Zamora attempted
  • p. 79 …The FBI was informed of the sighting by the New Mexico State Police. The New Mexico…
  • p. 81 Sgt Sam Charez of the New Mexico State Police was interviewed by Major Connor and Sgt…
  • p. 82 …Sawde Darnore interviewed by Sgt Chavez, New Mexico State Police Kes
  • p. 153 …New Mexico after a rash of reports of sightings of unidentified flying objects in the state…
  • p. 156 …A rash of unidentified flying object sightings had New Mexico State Police, local law enforcement agencies…
  • p. 158 …85 and New Mexico 180 and the object appeared to be about a quarter of a…
  • p. 163 …Lincoln LaPaz of the University of New Mexico who has an international reputation in running down…
  • p. 164 …Hynek said he had not been told by the government whether sending him to New Mexico…
  • p. 167 …UPI) - New Mexico's perennial addiction to flying saucers has taken hold of the state again…
on radiator or on trunk, at this first glance.

The only time I saw these two persons was when I had stopped, for possibly two seconds or so, to glance at the object. I don't recall noting any particular shape or possibly any hats or headgear. These persons appeared normal in shape--but possibly they were small adults or large kids.

Then paid attention to road while drove towards scene. Radioed to sheriff's office Socorro 2, possibly 10-44 (accident). I'll be 10-6 (busy) out of the car, checking the car down in the arroyo.

Stopped car, was still talking on radio, started to get out, Mike fell down, reached back to put up Mike, then replaced radio Mike in slot, got out of car, and started to go down to where knew the object (car) was.

Harrily turned around from car when heard roar (was not exactly a blast), very loud roar—at that close was real loud. Not like a jet—knows what a jet sounds like. Started low frequency quickly, then roar rose in frequency (higher tone) and 'n loudness—from loud to very loud. At same time as roar, saw flame. Flame was under the object. Object was starting to go straight up—slowly up. Object slowly rose straight up. Flame was light blue and at bottom was sort of orange color. From this angle, saw what might be the side of object (not end, as first noted). Difficult to describe flame. Thought, from rear, it might blow up. Flame might have come from underside of object, at middle, possibly a four foot area—very rough guess. Cannot describe flame further except blue and orange. No smoke except dust in immediate area.

As soon as saw flame and heard roar, turned away, ran away from object but did turn head towards object. Bumped leg on car - back fender area. Car facing southwest. Object was in shape. It was smooth - no windows or doors. As roar started, it was still on or near ground. Noted red lettering of some type like Insignia was about 21/4 inches high and about 21 inches wide, guess. Was in middle of object, like . Object still like aluminum- white.

After fell by car and glasses fell off, kept running to north, with car between me and object. Glanced back couple of times. Noted object to rise to about level of car about 20 to 25 feet guess--took I guess about six seconds when object started to rise and I glanced back. I ran I guess about halfway to where I ducked down--about fifty feet from car is where I ducked down, just over edge of hill. I guess I had run about 25 feet when I glanced back and saw the object about level with the car and it appeared about directly over the place where it rose from.

I was still running and I jumped just over the hill--I step because I did not hear the roar. I was scared of the roar, and I had planned to continue running down the hill. I turned around toward the object and at the same time put my head toward ground, covering my face with my arms. Being that there was no roar, I looked up, and I say the object going away from me, in a southwest direction. When the roar stopped, heard a sharp tone whine from high tone to low tone. At end of roar was this whine and the whine lasted maybe a second. Then there was complete silence about the object. That's when I lifted up my head and saw the object going away from me.

It did not come any closer to me. It appeared to go in straight line and at same height=possibly 10 to 15 feet from ground, and it cleared the dynamic shack by about three feet. Shack about eight feet high. Object was traveling very fast. It seemed to rise up, and take off? immediately across country. I ran back to my car and as I ran back, I kept an eye on the object. I picked up my glasses (I left the sun glasses on ground), got into the car and radioed to WEP. Lopes, radio operator, to "look out the window, to see if you could see an object.

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