Socorro Landing — USAF Project Blue Book Physical Evidence Report

On April 24, 1964, Socorro Police Officer Lonnie Zamora was chasing a speeding car south of Socorro, New Mexico, when he heard a roar and saw a bluish-orange flame descending into a gully. Abandoning the chase, he drove toward the gully and observed an egg-shaped white craft on the ground with two small figures in white overalls nearby. As Zamora approached on foot, the craft began to emit a loud roar, the figures disappeared, and the craft lifted vertically. Zamora ran, fell, lost his glasses, but observed the craft flying low to the south and disappearing. He radioed his report while the craft was still visible. Sergeant Sam Chavez of New Mexico State Police arrived within minutes and confirmed the physical evidence. Project Blue Book investigators documented four irregular circular depressions in the soil at the four leg positions (4–6 inches deep, matching consistent dimensions), charred brush at four locations corresponding to the engine positions, and a rock with blue flame residue. Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Blue Book's scientific consultant, visited the site and declared this his best case — a trained law enforcement officer with physical evidence and a corroborating second witness. Hynek later stated the Socorro case was the only one he could not explain even after decades of reflection. The CIA and DIA both referenced the Socorro case in internal documents. Blue Book classification: Unknown.