FBI-004is this archive's internal reference, not an official government file number, and the CONFIDENTIAL tag is an editorial archival label — not a current U.S. classification. Now Declassified is an independent index and is not affiliated with the U.S. government. See the original records via FBI Vault.
Visual reconstruction and recovered media extracted from the incident dossier. This case includes still evidence and analytical reconstruction.
Representative official gallery image traced to an official public-source archive
Socorro police officer Lonnie Zamora observed a white oval craft with red insignia resting on legs in an arroyo, attended by two figures in white. He observed the craft take off with a roaring flame, become silent after 20 feet, and depart at high speed. Physical evidence — burned vegetation, soil compression, metal scrapings — was immediately confirmed by State Police and Army investigators. Project Blue Book listed this as 'unknown.'
On April 24, 1964, Socorro Police Department Officer Lonnie Zamora was in pursuit of a speeding vehicle when he heard a roar and saw a flame to the southwest. Diverting his cruiser, he drove up a dirt embankment and observed a white, egg-shaped metallic craft resting on landing legs in an arroyo. Near the craft were two figures in white coveralls. As Zamora approached, the craft emitted a loud roar, a blue and orange flame appeared below, and the craft lifted off vertically. After ascending approximately 20 feet, the roaring and flame ceased; the craft moved silently southward and accelerated to high speed before disappearing from view. The physical evidence was immediately confirmed: burned vegetation, impressed ground marks from landing legs, and small metal scrapings were documented by New Mexico State Police Sergeant Chavez, who arrived within minutes, and USAF Captain Richard Holder and FBI Special Agent J. Arthur Byrnes the following day. Project Blue Book investigated and listed the Socorro case as 'unknown' — one of only a handful to receive this designation. Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Blue Book's scientific consultant, called Zamora 'one of the most credible witnesses I have ever encountered' and the case 'one of the most baffling cases in the Blue Book files.' The 2026 archive release includes the FBI Special Agent field report and the Army ordnance analysis of the physical samples.
This incident is indexed as file FBI-004inside Now Declassified's research layer. The nearest official source trail for this agency points to FBI Vault, where archive records, imagery, or supporting context are published for public review.
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FBI Photo B20: an infrared still of an unidentified craft hovering at under 1,000 ft for 45 minutes. Object defied wind conditions and maintained perfect stationary position with no discernible propulsion.
Cuban rural workers observed a disc land in a field near Camagüey and reported it to Cuban military police. The Cuban government investigated and reported the incident to US intelligence through diplomatic channels during the Batista period. The FBI's Havana legal attaché compiled the report.
Amateur geologist Stefan Michalak suffered radiation burns, a grid-pattern chest injury, and subsequent radiation sickness after approaching a landed disc that discharged hot gas through a ventilation grid. Canadian authorities, RCMP, RCAF, and the US military all investigated. Physical evidence at the landing site was confirmed radioactive. Considered Canada's most documented physical UAP case.
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