On April 24, 1964, in Socorro, New Mexico, police officer Lonnie Zamora witnessed a strange craft that would become one of the most studied UFO cases in history.
This encounter was part of Project Blue Book and remains officially unexplained to this day.
The Sighting
While on patrol around 5:45 p.m, Zamora heard a loud roar and saw a small, egg-shaped object on the ground.
The craft had landing gear and a red insignia on its side and two small humanoid figures were observed near it.
The object suddenly ascended with a roar and a flame, leaving physical traces on the ground.
Investigation by Authorities
- U.S. Air Force Investigation (Project Blue Book) – Investigators interviewed Zamora, examined the site and collected soil and footprint samples.
- Physical Evidence: Burn marks, depressions in the ground and scuffed vegetation confirmed a landing had occurred.
- Witness Credibility: Zamora was a trained law enforcement officer with no history of hoaxes or psychiatric issues.
Analysis and Theories
Despite multiple theories proposed over the years — ranging from a misidentified rocket test to elaborate hoax — no conventional explanation fully fits the evidence.
The U.S. Air Force listed the case as “Unknown” in Project Blue Book.
- Conventional Hypotheses: Local rocket tests, experimental aircraft, or weather phenomena.
- UFO/Extraterrestrial Theory: Physical landing, humanoid figures and independent corroboration by witnesses make it one of the strongest UFO cases.
Legacy and Impact
The Zamora encounter has been cited by UFO researchers worldwide as one of the most credible sightings ever recorded.
It inspired decades of study, including investigations by Dr. J. Allen Hynek, who considered it a key example of a “Close Encounter of the Second Kind” (CE-II) — sighting with physical evidence.
The Lonnie Zamora case remains one of the most compelling UFO encounters on record.
With credible eyewitness testimony, physical evidence and thorough investigation by the Air Force, it stands as a benchmark for evaluating other unexplained aerial phenomena.
Half a century later, the event continues to intrigue researchers and challenge conventional explanations.