Project Blue Book Socorro file

UNIDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECT REPORT SOCORRO, NEW MEXICO, 24 APRIL 1964

On April 24, 1964, a Socorro, New Mexico policeman, Mr Lonnie Zamora, reported sighting an object about a mile south of the town at approximately 5:45 pm, in an unpopulated area full of hills and gullies and covered with sagebrush. Following is a summary of his report to Air Force investigators:

Mr Zamora reported that while chasing a speeding car north on US 85, he heard a roar and saw flames in an area where a dynamite shack was known to be located. He abandoned chase of the auto and proceeded to where he believed an explosion had occurred. After traveling a little-used road and experiencing considerable difficulty in trying to drive his car up a gravel-covered hill, he said he then observed what he thought was an overturned car standing on end. At this point he was about 800 ft distant from the object and his car was at the crest of a hill with the object ahead of him in a gully. He reported that during this first glance he saw one or two figures in coveralls whom he assumed to be occupants of the object. This is the only time he saw these figures; he did not see them again. After radioing to Police Headquarters at Socorro that he was proceeding to investigate what he believed to be an auto accident, he drove to a point about 150 ft from the gully where the object rested and stopped the car to proceed on foot. He said the object was white, egg or oval-shaped and apparently supported on girderlike legs. He said he heard a roar and saw smoke and flame coming from the bottom of the object. At this point, Mr Zamora believed that the object was about to explode and he became frightened, turned, and ran to shield himself behind the police car, bumping his leg and losing his glasses on the way. He said that he crouched down, shielding his eyes with his arm while the noise stopped and he glanced up. He reported that the object had risen to a point about 15-20 ft above the ground and the flame and smoke had ceased. At this point, he reported, he noted a design on the object which he described as markings in red about 1 to $1\frac{1}{2}$ ft in height, shaped like a crescent with a vertical arrow and horizontal line underneath. He stated that the object remained stationary for several seconds and then flew off in a southerly direction following the contour of the gully.

Within moments afterward, Sgt Chavez of the New Mexico State Police arrived on the scene in response to Mr Zamora's earlier radio call. He observed no object, but he reported that there were some slight depressions in the ground and apparently burned brush in the area where Mr Zamora had reported seeing the object. The brush was cold to the touch. Sgt Chavez reported the incident to local military authorities who conducted the initial investigation.

The Air Force sent investigators from their project office at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. The investigation disclosed the following facts:

No other witnesses to the object reported by Mr Zamora could be located.

There were no unidentified helicopters or aircraft in the area.

Observers at radar installations had observed no unusual or unidentified blips.

There was no unusual meteorological activity; no thunderstorms. The weather was windy but clear.