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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. 1 …85,.17 miles north of Socorro. "I wasn't going to report it because I didn…
  • p. 3 …He told police Gallegos' report came on the heels of a similar report from a Socorro…
  • p. 4 # Mysterious Object Pays SOCORRO (UPI) - It was shiny and stood on four gird- round, stood on…
  • p. 5 …Last April 24, Officer Lonnie Zamora, on highway patrol, sighted an oval-shaped craft near Socorro…
  • p. 6 # Astronomer Hunts Clue To 'Saucer' SOCORRO, N. M., April 29 (AP). An astronomer from the Dearborn…
  • p. 7 …Sam Chavez said he was told by Socorro policeman Lonnie Zamora that the UFO he saw…
  • p. 9 …the desert about a mile south of Socorro. He denied seeing any signs of life around…
  • p. 10 …Policeman By CHARLES RICHARDS United Press International SOCORRO, N.M. (UPI)—It's a good place…
  • p. 11 …No less than six "authentic" spottings have been reported since Friday when Socorro Policeman L on…
  • p. 13 …Gallegos' report came on the heels of a similar report from a Socorro policeman, Lonnie Zamora…
  • p. 14 …The reports came from Socorro and the Espanola area. State Police Capt. Martin Vigil said investigators…
  • p. 16 SOCORRO POLICEMAN Lonnie Zamora tells how, he spotted an egg-shaped flying object near Socorro, N…
  • p. 17 # Air Force UFO 4129 Expert to Check 'Saucer' Reports SOCORRO (P) Dr. J. Allen Hynek, special…
  • p. 18 April 25, 1964, when on the previous day at Socorro, New Mexico a policeman, Mr. Lonnie…
  • p. 19 Landing area at Socorro, New Mexico, taken April 25.
  • p. 20 …When it flew away, Socorro, N.M., policeman Lonnie Zamora said he ran from it. Since…
  • p. 21 # "ELPASO TIMES" Film On UFCs To Include Socorro Officer Secorro, N.M. (AP)—A Hollywood, Calif…
  • p. 22 …No less than six "authentic" spotings have been reported since Friday when Socorro Policeman Lonnie Zamora…
  • p. 23 UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT REPORT SOCORRO, NEW MEXICO, 24 APRIL 1964 On April 24, 1964, a Socorro…
  • p. 25 # Air Force Uru Expert to Check 'Saucer' Reports SOCORRO Dr. J. Allen Hynek, special unidentified flying…
  • p. 26 …85 two miles south of Socorro between 7:30 and 8 p.m. The unidentified tourist…
  • p. 27 …The flap started, as most know, when Socorro, N.M., policeman Lonnie Zamora (note incorrect spelling…
  • p. 28 # El Defensor SOCORRO: Inhabited Since 1540 Home of the Famed New Mexico VOL. 98 NO.34…
  • p. 29 Published Tuesdays & Thursdays in Socorro, N. M. 87801 TUESDAY, APRIL 28. # Of UFO Landing Here Observe…
  • p. 30 …Holder of Socorro, U.S. Army up-range commander with headquarters at Stallion Range Center on…
  • p. 34 # UFO Sighting, Socorro, New Mexico, 24 Apr 64 Hq USAF SAF0I PB (Mrs Gaiser) Wash D…
  • p. 45 …On Tuesday, 28 April 1964, Capt Quintanilla directed Doctor J Allen Hynek to Socorro to obtain…
  • p. 56 …produce markings such as those found at Socorro. One known experimental model, constructed by Bell Aircraft…
  • p. 72 …on the April 24, 1964 sighting at Socorro, New Mexico, made by Lt. Zamora. I would…
  • p. 73 …As I recall, the man was driving into Socorro at the time. Unfortunately, I no longer…
  • p. 74 …As a recall, the man was driving into Socorro at the time. Unfortunately, no longer have…
  • p. 75 ## Four Years Old # $100 Reward Offered In Saucer Mystery SOCORRO The mystery of a reported unidentified…
  • p. 77 ## NARRATIVE OF SOCORRO, NEW MEXICO SIGHTING, 24 APRIL 1964 Shortly after 5:30 pm on Friday…
  • p. 83 TDEW/UFO UFO Sighting Socorro, New Mexico 14 May 1964 Test Support Officer (Col K. Young…
  • p. 84 …On 18 May 1964 TSgt Moody called Mr Opal Grinder at 835-9916 in Socorro New…
  • p. 85 …Capt Quintanilla contacted the FTD liaison office at Holloman AFB regarding the Socorro sighting and requested…
  • p. 89 …Cloud Gap operations were conducted in an area about a hundred miles north of Socorro, New…
  • p. 90 …5 CASES of sightings in 1963 or early 1964 reported subsequent to Socorro Sightings ## ALBUQUERQUE, NEW…
  • p. 92 THE FOLLOWING SIGHTINGS WERE REPORTED TO THE AIR FORCE AND MIGHT BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE SOCORRO…
  • p. 95 …In my visit to Socorro I determined that Zamora had been urged by the Mayor to…
  • p. 99 …Coming back to the Socorro case: I'm sorry that I couldn't have been of…
  • p. 101 Report on the Trip to Socorro - Albuquerque - Socorro, March 12-13, 1965 Left Las Cruces 7…
  • p. 102 …CONCLUSIONS 24 April 1964 Socorro, New Mexico □ Was Balloon □ Probably Balloon □ Possibly Balloon □ Was Aircraft □ Probably…
  • p. 103 it on a global basis and the UFO phenomenon apart from the Socorro case is certainly…
  • p. 104 …His principal reason for selecting Socorro seems to be the following: "The main one can be…
  • p. 105 …Ted Raynor, Editor, Socorro El Defensor Chieftan, Socorro, New Mexico, and he can send one of…
  • p. 108 …Apparently the Socorro teenagers are much more direct in their methods of reprisal for the "fuzz…
  • p. 110 …I do not believe that the Socorro high school students could have kept a secret this…
  • p. 111 …There is also the opinion expressed in Socorro, and expressed to me a number of times…
  • p. 123 # UFO REPORT Lonnie Zamora, 606 Resevoir Street, Socorro, New Mexico, 835-1134, Officer Socorro Police Force…
  • p. 125 …Radioed to sheriff's office Socorro 2, possibly 10-44 (accident). I'll be 10-6…
  • p. 126 …State Police at Socorro) calling me on radio for my location, and I returned to my…
  • p. 127 ## INFORMATION RELATIVE TO THE SOCORRO SIGHTING OF UFO BY LONNIE ZAMORA At 0530, Sunday 26 April…
  • p. 129 …Coral Lorenzen and husband were in Socorro at the time and had interviewed both Lonnie Zamora…
  • p. 130 ## REPORT ON SOCORRO NEW MEXICO TRIP On Tuesday, April 28, 1964, in response to a call…
  • p. 133 …No 9 shows the town of Socorro in the distance, looking down longitudinally through the gulley…
  • p. 135 …NUMEROUS INQUIRES CONCERNING AIR FORCE INVESTIGATION AND EVALUATION OF THE RECENT UFO SIGHTING AT SOCORRO, NEW…
  • p. 136 …In about a month, I shall have occassion to return to the Socorro area, at which…
  • p. 137 …But, it is essential that the Socorro case be given the treatment. I also questioned, while…
  • p. 144 …said he spotted an egg on the desert about of Socorro. He denied signs of life…
maneuver was in progress, unless the log of such maneuvers is produced, and better yet, the entire "crime" reinacted, preforably in Zamora's presence. I recognize that this will be a very difficult task, but in view of the importance of this case, I think every attempt should be made to do this. It will require, very possibly, the attention of the Secretary of the Air Force himself.

It would be well, further, for "files protection" for the Air Force to tabulate from its records, and from available records from other sources, of other reported landings, such as, for instance, the cronological list which appeared in the January-February 1964 issue of Flying Saucer Review. Ignorance of what NICAP and APRO will designate as similar cases will be of little help.

In about a month, I shall have occassion to return to the Socorro area, at which time I will discuss with Zamora and Chaves after the excitement has completely simmered down, some of the finer points of the sighting, such as the location at which radio calls were made, etc.

The wind at that time was blowing very strongly from the south and I established by repeated questioning that the object had taken off either at right angles to the wind, or partially into the wind.

I have not stressed the insignia which Zamora reported, since he drew exactly the same thing which he had drawn for Capt Holder. I did question him many times on the shape of the object, as to whether it had clear cut edges or fuzzy edges, as to bits of color, etc., but the results were virtually the same as the information given to Capt Holder. The object was egg-shaped, had the inverted V insignia on it, two legs seemed to be protruding from the object, which was not chrome but "whitish-aluminum", and it was further established that the great roar during its initial take-off disappeared suddenly and the horizontal flight away and over the dynamite shack was noiseless.

I questioned Mr Art Burns of the FBI, and several others who had been on the site within the first hours after the sighting as to the alleged freshness of the tracks. They were all of the opinion that the tracks were, indeed, fresh.

Although Zamora was the only witness to the actual sighting, nine people in all saw the markings. Altogether nine people saw the markings within hours of the sighting and before the hours of curiosity seekers descended upon the place the following day.

After I visited the place of the sighting, I had several other talks with local people, and, in particular, with the reporter of the El Defensor Chieftan, or perhaps it was the editor (its a small paper). I believe that I talked with Mr Lewis A Reddell, the publisher of the El Defensor.

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