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Project Blue Book Socorro file (direct PDF)

Wikimedia Commons (USAF Project Blue Book) · 168 pages · text by GLM-OCR

This Project Blue Book file on the Socorro, New Mexico sighting of 24 April 1964 compiles an Air Force record card and a large set of press clippings. The clippings cover policeman Lonnie Zamora's report of an egg-shaped object with four landing marks and scorched brush, plus J. Allen Hynek's investigation and follow-up reports from La Madera, Edgewood and elsewhere. An Air Force summary says soil and brush analysis found no foreign material, radiation or propellant, that the case remains open, and that later related sightings were explained or found to be hoaxes.

  • p. 7 …was here today to examine the secluded hill where a Socorro policeman reported seeing a mysterious…
  • p. 15 …that she saw a fire in the hills southwest of Socorro Sunday night, where city officer…
  • p. 24 …pm, in an unpopulated area full of hills and gullies and covered with sagebrush. Following is…
  • p. 31 …The tourist also commented that he had seen a police car heading up the hill. This…
  • p. 57 …He also observed the police car heading up the hill toward the spot where the UFO…
  • p. 76 …ago south of Socorro on an isolated hill remains unsolved. And to help find clues to…
  • p. 78 …travel a little-used road over several hills and gullies. After two or three efforts to…
  • p. 98 …You suggest that when Zamora's car created the hill, the hoaxers triggered another blast of…
  • p. 101 …As you may know, we have rented a house at 57 Avon Hill Street. I hope…
  • p. 115 …Made three attempts to climb hill. First sighting of object. Stopped car for a couple of…
  • p. 124 …Could not see bottom of flame because it was behind hill. No smoke noted. Noted some…
  • p. 126 …I was still running and I jumped just over the hill--I step because I did…
  • p. 127 …ran from object, jumped over edge of hill, then got back to car and radio as…
  • p. 129 …He turned off the road and proceeded to a point up a hill where he could…
  • p. 133 …He thus came up upon the object from behind the hill and from the side, so…
  • p. 138 …The tourist also commented that he had seen a police car heading up the hill. This…
  • p. 150 …One year ago Saturday Zam investigated what sounded two explosions in the hills so of Socorro…
  • p. 151 …an unidentified flying object on a lonely hill-just south Socorro. Among results were an Force…
  • p. 152 …reports." Dr Hyek visited yesterday the secluded hill where Socorro policeman Lonnie Zamora reported seeing an…
  • p. 154 …was here today to examine the secluded hill where a Socorro policeman reports seeing a mysterious…
  • p. 161 …As Zamora moved closer he lost sight of the object behind a hill. He continued driving…
  • p. 166 …short "men." Zamora continued driving up the hill to get a closer look. When he stopped…
  • p. 167 …HYNEK VISITED TODAY THE SECLUDED HILL WHERE SOCORRO POLICEMAN LONNIE ZAMORA REPORTED SEEING AN EGG-SHAPED…

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# UFO Sighting Re-Enacted; NoHelp to Scientist

BOCORRO An Air force consultant on unidented flying objects had Poeman Lonnie Zamora react in detail Wednesday the hting of a UFO in Socorro t Friday.

The consultant, Dr. J. Allen nek, said after the re-en- ment that he could draw conclusions on what Za- ora saw and was "more zzled than I was when I rlved here."

Dr. Hynek returned to Alquerque Wednesday after on and departed for the ist by plane.

Zamora reported seeing an g-shaped object fly away from a draw last Friday evening. Other reports have follved.

After the re-enactment, wever, Dr. Hynek said he is puzzled that there was evidence at the Socorro

Dr. Hynek said he was also puzzled by lack of radar contacts with objects that have been reported.

"It's my understanding New Mexico is infested with radar equipment," he said. "I'm going to check to see if there have been radar contacts that might tie into these reports."

site of ignition of a thrust unit powerful enough to lift a vehicle the size Zamora reported.

"Usually one finds many contradictions or omissions in these reports," Dr. Hynek said. "But Mr. Zamora's story is simply told, certainly told without any intent to perpetrate a hoax. The story of course was told by a man who obviously was frightened badly by what he did see. He

witness was supported by Dr. Lincoln LaPaz of the University of New Mexico who has

an international reputation in running down reports on fireballs and meteorites. "I would first point out that we are not personally involved in the investigation of these unidentified flying objects," Dr. LaPaz said. "But I do want to say that I have had contacts with Mr. Zamora in my work and he is a thoroughly dependable observer.

Dr. Hynek said he found little at the Socorro site. "The area certainly has been thoroughly messed up by the tourists. There's nothing to see there now."

He said soil samples had been taken to "see if there are any particles in the ashes or at the site that might be foreign to this area." Dr. Hynek said that a report that the Air Force had

asked Zamora not to discuss the markings was false. "No one in the Air Force even suggested that nothing should be said about the markings," he said.

Dr. Hynek also was asking universities in the state if they knew of any geophysical group work in the state.

"These people often have some strange type of vehicles and aircraft they use in these rugged areas when taking radioactive samples," he said. A 10-year-old Albuquerque girl was treated Tuesday night for what her mother told police were "infra-red" burns received when she looked up at a "flying saucer." Hynek said he went to the girl's home Wednesday. He said she appeared to be suffering from sunburn or a skin infection.

SOCORRO NM

24 Apr 64

# Is This the Answer?

U. S. Government aircraft flying at low levels along US-66 and US-70-80 taking photographs with powerful electronic flash equipment during the last week, may be part of the answer to the rash of "flying saucers" seen in New Mexico.

The jet airplanes were taking the photos during both day and night times from Albuquerque west to Kingman, Ariz., and from Deming west to Casa Grande, Arlz., up until Sunday, according to a Kirtland AF Base spokesman.

Saturday night one of the Kirtland - based jets flew over Albuquerque with two bright "strobe" (electronle flash) units flashing on and off every second and lighting up a large area below it each time with a white, almost bluish light.

The "saucer" sightings began Friday when a Socorro policeman said he saw an egg-shaped object a short distance from the town. Since then several reports have been forwarded to police and military authorities.

About this file

Document, cited by the archive. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is above. The text was read from the page images by GLM-OCR; expect the odd misread word. 168 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.