Unidentified Flying Object Report - Socorro, New Mexico, 24 April 1964 (Project Blue Book Case File)

Summary

This document contains official investigation reports, officer statements, scientific correspondence, and analysis regarding the April 24, 1964 UFO landing reported by Police Officer Lonnie Zamora in Socorro, New Mexico. It includes official Project Blue Book findings, statements by Air Force investigators, correspondence involving Dr. J. Allen Hynek and Dr. Donald Menzel, and comprehensive reviews of physical evidence such as ground impressions and burned foliage.

Page 1 - Summary of Air Force Report

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 p.m., 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 U.S. 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 back 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 continued for another 10 seconds. At this time 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 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.

Page 2 - Air Force Investigation Findings

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 Air Force Base, 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.

There was no evidence of markings of any sort in the area other than the shallow depressions at the location where Mr. Zamora reported sighting the object.

Laboratory analysis of soil samples disclosed no foreign material or radiation above normal for the surrounding area.

Laboratory analysis of the burned brush showed no chemicals which would indicate a type of propellant.

There was no evidence presented that the object was extraterrestrial in origin or represented a threat to the security of the United States.

The Air Force is continuing its investigation and the case is still open.

For several days following this report, other sightings were reported in the New Mexico area. In each case the sighting was determined to be a known object or natural phenomena. Two of the reports were determined to be hoaxes.

Page 3 - Official Police Statement of Officer Lonnie Zamora (Page 1)

UFO REPORT Socorro, New Mexico April 24, 1964

Lonnie Zamora, 606 Reservoir Street, Socorro, New Mexico, 835-1134, Officer Socorro Police Force for about 5 years, office phone 835-0941, now on 2-10pm shift.

About 5:45 pm, 4-24-64, while in Socorro 2 Police Car (‘64 white Pontiac), he started to chase a car due south from west side of Court House. Car was apparently speeding and was about 3 blocks in front of police car. At point on Old Rodeo Street (extension of Park Street south) near George Morillo residence (about 1/2 mile south of Spring Street) the chased car was going straight ahead toward rodeo grounds. Car chased was a new black Chevrolet (it might have been Floyd Reynold’s boy, Vivian, about 17). Chased car still about 3 blocks ahead. Lonnie alone.

At this time, heard a roar and saw a flame in the sky to the southwest, some distance away—possibly a 1/2 mile or a mile. Came to mind that a dynamite shack in that area had blown up, decided to leave chased car go.

Flame was bluish and sort of orange too. Could not tell size of flame. Sort of motionless flame, slowly descending. Was still driving car and couldn’t pay too much attention to the flame. It was a narrow type of flame. It was like a “stream down” —a funnel type—narrower at top than at bottom. Flame possibly 3 degrees or so in width—not wide.

Flame about twice as wide at bottom as top and about four times as high as top was wide. Did not notice any object at top, did not notice if top of flame was level. Sun was to west and did not help vision. Had green sun glasses over prescription glasses. Could not see bottom of flame because it was behind hill. No smoke noted. Noted some “commotion” at bottom—dust? Possibly from windy day—wind was blowing hard. Clear sunny sky otherwise—just a few clouds scattered over area.

Noise was a roar, not a blast, not like a jet. Changed from high frequency to low frequency and then stopped. Roar lasted possibly 10 seconds—was going towards it at that time on the rough gravel road. Saw flame about as long as heard the sound. Flame same color, as best as recall. Sound distinctly from high to low until it disappeared. Windows were both down. No other spectators noted—no traffic except the car in front—and the car in front might have heard it but possibly did not see it because car in front was too close to hill in front to see the flame.

After the roar and flame, did not note anything while going up the somewhat steep rough hill—had to back up and try again, two more times. Got up about half way first time, the wheels started skidding, roar still going on, had to back down and try again before making the hill. Hill about 60 ft. long, fairly steep and with loose gravel and rock. While beginning third time, noise and flame not noted.

After got to top, traveled slowly on the gravel road westward. Noted nothing for a while… for possibly 15 or 20 seconds, went slowly, looking around for the shack—did not recall exactly where the dynamite shack was.

Suddenly noted a shiny type object to south about 150-200 yards. It was off the road. At first glance, stopped. It looked, at first, like a car turned upside down. Thought some kids might have turned over. Saw two people in white coveralls very close to the object. One of these persons seemed to turn and look straight at my car and seemed startled—seemed to quickly jump somewhat.

At this time, I started moving my car towards them quickly, with idea to help. Had stopped about only a couple seconds. Object was like aluminum—it was whitish against the mesa background, but not chrome. Seemed like [oval sketch] in shape and at first glance took it to be overturned white car. Car appeared turned up like standing on radiator or on trunk, at this first glance.

Page 4 - Official Police Statement of Officer Lonnie Zamora (Page 2)

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.

Hardly 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 in 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 roar, 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 [oval sketch] 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 sketch: inverted V with arrow and bar]. Insignia was about 2 1/4 inches high and about 2 inches wide, guess. Was in middle of object, like [diagram]. 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 stopped 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 saw 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 dynamite 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 Nep Lopez, radio operator, to ‘look out the window, to see if you could see an object.‘

Page 5 - Official Police Statement of Officer Lonnie Zamora (Page 3)

He asked ‘What is it?’ I answered, ‘It looks like a balloon.’ I don’t know if he saw it. If Nep looked out his window, which faces north, he couldn’t have seen it. I did not tell him at the moment which window to look out of.

As I was calling Nep, I could still see the object. The object seemed to lift up slowly, and to ‘get small’ in the distance very fast. It seemed to just clear the Box Canyon or Six Mile Canyon Mountain. It disappeared as it went over the mountain. It had no flame whatsoever as it was traveling over the ground, and no smoke or noise.

Feeling in good health. Last drink—two or three beers—was over a month ago. Noted no odors. Noted no sounds other than described. Gave directions to Nep Lopez at radio and to Sergeant M.S. Chavez to get there. Went down to where the object had been, and I noted the brush was burning in several places. At that time I heard Sgt. Chavez (N.M. State Police at Socorro) calling me on radio for my location, and I returned to my car, told him he was looking at me. Then Sgt. Chavez came up, asked me what the trouble was because I was sweating and he told me that I was white, very pale. I asked the Sgt. to see what I saw and that was the burning brush. Then Sgt. Chavez and I went to the spot and Sgt. Chavez pointed out the tracks.

When I first saw the object (when I thought it might be a car,) I saw what appeared to be two legs of some type from the object to the ground. At the time, I didn’t pay much attention to what it was—I thought it was an accident—I saw the two persons.

I didn’t pay much attention to the two ‘legs.’ The two ‘legs’ were at the bottom of the object, slanted outwards to the ground. The object might have been about three and a half feet from the ground at that time. I just glanced at it.

Can’t tell how long saw object second time (the ‘clear’ time), possibly 20 seconds—just a guess—for a from the time got out of car, glanced at object, ran from object, jumped over edge of hill, then got back to car and radio as object disappeared.

As my mike fell, I got out of car, at same area, I heard about two or three loud ‘thumps,’ like someone possibly opening or shutting a door hard. These ‘thumps’ were possibly a second or less apart. This was just before the roar. The persons were not seen when I got up to the scene area.

Just before Sgt. Chavez got to scene, I got my pen and drew a picture of the insignia on the object.

Pages 12-15 - USAF TDEW Report / Foreign Technology Division Summary (28 May 1964)

TDEW UFO Sighting, Socorro, New Mexico, 24 Apr 64 28 May 64

Hq USAF SAFOI PB (Mrs Gaiser) Wash D C 20330

1. The following is a resume on the unidentified flying object sighted by Mr Lonnie Zamora, of Socorro, New Mexico on 24 Apr 64, results of the investigation so far, conclusions reached by FTD and courses of action in continuing the investigation.

a. Background Information: (1) At approximately 1745, 24 Apr 64 an unidentified flying object was observed by Mr Lonnie Zamora in Socorro, New Mexico. The sighting was reported to Sgt Chavez of the New Mexico State Police. The object sighted by Mr Zamora had left markings in the ground as well as several burned spots in the area. The area was secured by Sgt Chavez and the commanding officer, Capt Holder of the Stallion Site at White Sands notified. Capt Holder conducted an initial investigation of the sighting and obtained samples of the charred areas and dirt surrounding the markings left by the UFO. (2) News media and persons connected with various UFO organizations such as APRO and NICAP received word of the sighting and sent investigators to the scene… Captain Hector Quintanilla, Project Officer, directed TSgt David Moody to assist in the investigation for the Air Force. Sgt Moody contacted Major Conner, the Officer at Kirtland AFB responsible for unidentified flying object investigations, and accompanied him to Socorro…

b. Specific Findings from Efforts to Date: (1) Search of area found no automobile tire markings other than those at the site. (2) Radioactivity: No radioactivity in the area. (3) Helo Activity: All military helicopters accounted for and eliminated. (4) Radar Surveillance: No unidentified radar activity reported. (5) Soil Samples: ASD spectrographic laboratory analysis revealed no foreign material, propellant chemicals, or unusual elemental composition. (6) VTOL and Lunar Modules: Lunar Module configurations conform to description, but known experimental models were at Edwards AFB. (7) Additional Witness: Tourist reported low flying craft to service station manager Opal Grinder.

c. General Conclusions to Date: Evaluation confirms a sighting occurred. Characteristics match a VTOL, helicopter, or Lunar Module configuration. Sighting was not atmospheric or astronomical phenomena, nor an interplanetary craft. Case remains open.

ERIC T de JONCKHEERE, Colonel, USAF, Deputy for Technology and Subsystems

Pages 21-23 - Letter from Dr. J. Allen Hynek to Dr. Donald H. Menzel (29 September 1964)

Northwestern University / Dearborn Observatory September 29, 1964

Dr. Donald H. Menzel Harvard College Observatory

Dear Don: With respect to the Socorro case, I wish I could substantiate the idea that it was a hoax or a hallucination. Unfortunately, I cannot. I have talked at length with the principals in the sighting, and unless my knowledge of human nature is utterly out of phase, I would feel that Zamora is incapable of perpetrating a hoax. He is simply a good solid cop…

Major Quintanilla is convinced that the Socorro sighting is neither a hoax nor a hallucination, but he feels that perhaps some sort of test object might have been going on. However, there is no record of such even though he has tried to track this down through White Sands, Holloman Air Force Base, and a few others…

Then, of course, we have the testimony of the tourist who stopped by Whiting’s Gas Station who remarked: ‘If that was a helicopter, it’s the damndest helicopter I ever saw. It seems he was in some sort of trouble because he landed just over the hill, and a little later I saw a police car going out toward it.’

Sincerely yours, J. Allen Hynek

Pages 26-32 - Letter from Dr. Donald H. Menzel and Lyle Boyd to Dr. J. Allen Hynek (19 February 1965)

Harvard College Observatory February 19, 1965

Dear Allen: This is a joint letter from Lyle Boyd and myself relative to the Socorro, New Mexico, UFO case… Both of us approached this problem like that presented in a detective story. There are certain facts. We tried to accept the facts as nearly as possible at face value, and then to come up with a suggested solution.

[Menzel and Boyd analyze the optical conditions, Zamora’s uncorrected 20/200 vision after losing his glasses, the chemical characteristics of the flame and smoke, the nature of the charred cardboard found on scene, the four landing gear impressions, and propose a detailed hypothesis that local high school students or pranksters staged an elaborate hoax using fireworks, an electronic roar simulator, and a light foil-and-balloon mockup to fool Officer Zamora.]

Cordially yours, Donald H. Menzel Lyle Boyd

Pages 34-43 - Report on Trip to Socorro by Dr. J. Allen Hynek (March 12-13, 1965)

Report on the Trip to Socorro - Albuquerque - Socorro, March 12-13, 1965

Dr. Hynek documents his follow-up investigation, conferences with newspaper editor Chet Rainer, Sergeant Sam Chavez, Dr. Lincoln LaPaz, and Officer Lonnie Zamora. Hynek reviews Menzel’s hoax hypothesis point-by-point with local witnesses and experts, finding that the wind direction, timing, physical layout, lack of local UFO clubs, and presence of corroborating out-of-town witnesses refute the balloon/firework hoax theory. He also discusses commercial interest including the Empire Films documentary ‘Phenomena 7.7’.

Pages 46-50 - Follow-up Search for Tourist Witnesses (1968)

Documents and correspondence regarding the identification of tourist witnesses from Dubuque, Iowa (Paul Kies and Larry Kratzer) who were traveling on U.S. 85 near Socorro on April 24, 1964, and reported seeing the low-flying craft and police cruiser, leading to Dr. Hynek offering a reward and contacting the Dubuque Telegraph-Herald to obtain their testimonies.

Page 53 - Physical Evidence Diagram of Landing Site

Technical sketch by R. Richland Stanford detailing the landing site dimensions: 4 landing gear impressions forming an irregular quadrilateral with diagonals intersecting at 90 degrees (measurements: 158.5 inches, 115.5 inches, 142.5 inches, 177.5 inches), central major burn area with calcined rock and burned bush directly beneath presumed center of gravity, ladder imprints, and footprint impressions.

Page 55 - Project 10073 Record Card (Official Case Summary)

PROJECT 10073 RECORD CARD

1. DATE: 24 April 1964
2. LOCATION: Socorro, New Mexico
3. DATE-TIME GROUP: Local 1745 / GMT 25/0045Z
4. TYPE OF OBSERVATION: Ground-Visual
5. PHOTOS: No (Physical Spec: Yes)
6. SOURCE: Civilian
7. LENGTH OF OBSERVATION: Less than 10 minutes
8. NUMBER OF OBJECTS: One
9. COURSE: Stationary, SW or West
10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF SIGHTING: Sighting of landing by Lonnie Zamora. SEE CASE FILE.
11. COMMENTS: Initially believed to be observation of Lunar module type configuration. Effort to date cannot place vehicle at site. Case carried as UNIDENTIFIED pending additional data.
12. CONCLUSIONS: UNIDENTIFIED