Report Type: Ground Landing with Beings (Close Encounter of the Third Kind) Date: April 24, 1964 Time: Approximately 5:45–5:50 PM Location Name: Socorro (arroyo south of town, near Fairgrounds Road) Country: United States GPS Coordinates: 34.04250° N, 106.89778° W
What Happened: Socorro Police Sergeant Lonnie Zamora, while pursuing a speeding vehicle south of town, heard a loud roar and saw a bluish-orange flame in a nearby arroyo. He drove toward the site and observed a shiny, egg-shaped (or oval) object, metallic white/aluminum in appearance, resting on the ground on four legs. Nearby, he briefly saw two small humanoid figures in white coveralls standing beside the craft.
Zamora approached on foot. He heard two loud metallic clangs (like doors closing), after which the figures disappeared. A louder roar and bright flame erupted from the underside, and the object rose vertically, hovered briefly, then flew away rapidly to the southwest. Zamora radioed for assistance; New Mexico State Police Sergeant Sam Chavez arrived shortly after. They discovered four rectangular landing impressions in the soil (about 8x9 inches, several inches deep), circular marks, burned vegetation (greasewood bushes scorched on one side), and other ground traces, but no footprints from the beings.
Additional Context/Details: This is one of the most famous and best-documented UFO landing cases in history, investigated extensively by Project Blue Book (led by Capt. Hector Quintanilla), the FBI, Army personnel from White Sands Missile Range, and civilian ufologists including J. Allen Hynek. Air Force officials brought in Dr. J. Allen Hynek, a respected astronomer and consultant on Project Bluebook, . Dr. Hynek found the physical evidence convincing. Zamora was regarded as a highly credible witness—sober, reliable, and not prone to exaggeration. The case was officially listed as "Unidentified" by Blue Book, with no conventional explanation fully satisfying investigators at the time.
Physical evidence included the indentations and burns, photographed and measured on site. Possible explanations proposed later include a lunar lander test, student hoax, or secret military craft, but none have been conclusively proven. The incident gained worldwide attention and remains a cornerstone case in UAP studies due to the witness credibility, physical traces, and official documentation.
