Case study · CASE-025 · Close encounter / trace report
Socorro / Lonnie Zamora
OpenOpen / unresolvedWhere Socorro, New Mexico, USAWhen 1964-04-24
Case
- Overview
- Police officer Lonnie Zamora reported an object and ground traces; investigated by USAF Project Blue Book.
- Investigative phases
- Witness report; site examination; Blue Book investigation | V99: FBI liaison correspondence on Air Force jurisdiction over the investigation is in FBI UFO Part 13 (approx pp. 90, 112-117; SRC-V86-62); pages and dates still to verify. | V99: Blue Book Case 8766 (microfilm 1964-04 / 8694587); Sgt. Chavez at site; Capt. Holder and FBI agent Byrnes named; Hynek visit reported 28-29 April 1964; Blue Book disposition unidentified
- Reported phenomena
- Object, occupants reported; ground marks | V99: white/aluminum oval with two supports, red insignia, two figures in white, roar and blue/orange flame; four impressions, three circular marks and scorched vegetation reported
- Public evidence status
- Contemporaneous official case file and reporting available through Blue Book archive | V99: FBI Albuquerque report on war.gov (SRC-V99-090), Internet Archive reel (SRC-V99-091), Fold3 (SRC-V99-092), CUFOS Zamora files (SRC-V99-094); lab test reports and Hynek field notes not yet located
- Alternative explanations / caveats
- Single principal eyewitness; contamination/hoax and misidentification hypotheses contested | V99: site disturbed by onlookers and press before Hynek's visit; trace dimensions not reconciled; reported negative radiation/soil tests lack methods; lunar-lander test and hoax hypotheses unresolved; decoy-insignia story unverified; Elizondo's Nimitz comparison is analogy only; unidentified does not mean extraterrestrial
- Next research tasks
- Obtain complete Blue Book file, photos, field measurements and interview chronology | V99 (from Jason's V93 queue): find original signed Zamora sketches and insignia pages; transcribe trace measurements; obtain lab reports and custody; locate Hynek April 1964 notes; verify decoy insignia; trace the p205 figure's book; locate Chavez, Holder and Byrnes reports; check White Sands lunar-lander test schedules; name other witnesses; verify Blue Book closing memo and Quintanilla quote; confirm Hynek Rosetta Stone quote
- Last reviewed
- 2026-11-12
Assessment
- Event date
- 1964-04-24
- Source category
- Official investigation and testimony
- Original data accessibility
- Official file accessible; physical samples uncertain
- Witness / instrument basis
- Witness + physical traces
- Corroboration limitations
- Single principal eyewitness; contamination/hoax and misidentification hypotheses contested
- Extraordinary claim assessment
- Open / unresolved
- Current status
- Open / unresolved
- Priority research task
- Obtain complete Blue Book file, photos, field measurements and interview chronology
- Lead source ID
- SRC-105
- Last reviewed
- 2026-10-29
Evidence (25)
- Primary record / original reporting: Socorro / Lonnie Zamora Claim unverified
- FBI correspondence concerning Air Force jurisdiction over the Socorro investigation Documented
- Project Blue Book Case 8766 dossier; microfilm identifier 1964-04 / 8694587 Verify
- Internet Archive reproduction of the Socorro Blue Book microfilm reel Claim unverified
- Zamora account: roar and flame, white/aluminum oval with two supports, red insignia, two figures in white; departure with roar and blue/orange flame toward hills/Six-Mile Canyon Documented
- Sgt. Sam Chavez arrived shortly afterwards and observed site conditions Unverified
- Capt. Richard T. Holder (White Sands Up-Range Commander) and FBI agent D. Arthur Byrnes Jr. named as investigators Verify
- Hynek visit: interviewed Zamora and examined the scene; site already disturbed by onlookers and press Verify
- Ground traces: four trapezoidal/rectangular impressions (one summary 16x6 inches, another 8-9 inches deep), three shallow circular marks about 4 inches across, scorched greasewood/grass Verify
- Radiation and chemical soil testing reportedly showed nothing unusual Unverified
- Five reproduced exhibits cataloged by Jason: signed object sketch (103 ft position), signed insignia sketch, trajectory map, measured ground plan, and a published p205 figure of competing insignia Verify
- Allegation that Holder/Blue Book released a decoy insignia to the press to screen hoax reports Unverified
- Alternatives considered: White Sands/Bell lunar-lander test vehicle (reportedly rejected by Hynek) and hoax (Hynek reportedly found it difficult) Reported
- Blue Book disposition: Case 8766 designated unidentified; Quintanilla reportedly called it his most puzzling case Unverified
- Elizondo's Socorro narrative: other motorists, explosion-like sound, separate white butane-tank-shaped object, comparison with 2004 Nimitz Tic Tac Unverified
- Archival locators: Fold3 page 1 of Case 8766 and NARA Blue Book research guide Reported
- Zamora reports breaking off a speeding-car pursuit after a roar and flame; sees a white/aluminum oval object with two landing supports, a red insignia and two figures in white; object lifts off with roar and blue/orange flame toward the hills CorroboratedFirsthand
- Sgt. Sam Chavez reportedly arrived shortly after the sighting and observed physical site conditions UnverifiedFirsthand
- Hynek reportedly visited Socorro, interviewed Zamora and examined the site, which had already been disturbed by onlookers and press VerifyFirsthand
- Hynek reportedly judged Zamora credible and publicity-averse, rejected White Sands/Bell lunar-lander test explanations, and considered a hoax difficult given the marks and lack of tracks; Socorro later described as a turning point for him (Rosetta Stone quote) UnverifiedFirsthand
- Maj. Hector Quintanilla allegedly called Socorro his most puzzling case Unverified
- Elizondo recounts Socorro, including other motorists, an explosion-like sound and a separate white butane-tank-shaped object, and compares Zamora's oval object to the 2004 Nimitz Tic Tac UnverifiedSecondhand
- Allegation that Capt. Holder / Blue Book withheld Zamora's true insignia and gave the press a decoy to screen out hoax reports UnverifiedSecondhand
- Capt. Richard T. Holder, White Sands Up-Range Commander, named as military investigator of the Socorro case Verify
- FBI agent D. Arthur Byrnes Jr. named as participating in the Socorro investigation Verify
Documents gathered (25 lines of evidence)
- Primary record / original reporting: Socorro / Lonnie Zamora Primary record linked
- FBI correspondence concerning Air Force jurisdiction over the Socorro investigation Readable here
- Project Blue Book Case 8766 dossier; microfilm identifier 1964-04 / 8694587 Readable here
- Internet Archive reproduction of the Socorro Blue Book microfilm reel Readable here
- Zamora account: roar and flame, white/aluminum oval with two supports, red insignia, two figures in white; departure with roar and blue/orange flame toward hills/Six-Mile Canyon Readable here
- Sgt. Sam Chavez arrived shortly afterwards and observed site conditions Readable here
- Capt. Richard T. Holder (White Sands Up-Range Commander) and FBI agent D. Arthur Byrnes Jr. named as investigators Readable here
- Hynek visit: interviewed Zamora and examined the scene; site already disturbed by onlookers and press Primary record linked
- Ground traces: four trapezoidal/rectangular impressions (one summary 16x6 inches, another 8-9 inches deep), three shallow circular marks about 4 inches across, scorched greasewood/grass Primary record linked
- Radiation and chemical soil testing reportedly showed nothing unusual Readable here
- Five reproduced exhibits cataloged by Jason: signed object sketch (103 ft position), signed insignia sketch, trajectory map, measured ground plan, and a published p205 figure of competing insignia Readable here
- Allegation that Holder/Blue Book released a decoy insignia to the press to screen hoax reports Accounts / secondary only
- Alternatives considered: White Sands/Bell lunar-lander test vehicle (reportedly rejected by Hynek) and hoax (Hynek reportedly found it difficult) Readable here
- Blue Book disposition: Case 8766 designated unidentified; Quintanilla reportedly called it his most puzzling case Readable here
- Elizondo's Socorro narrative: other motorists, explosion-like sound, separate white butane-tank-shaped object, comparison with 2004 Nimitz Tic Tac Readable here
- Archival locators: Fold3 page 1 of Case 8766 and NARA Blue Book research guide Primary record linked
- Zamora reports breaking off a speeding-car pursuit after a roar and flame; sees a white/aluminum oval object with two landing supports, a red insignia and two figures in white; object lifts off with roar and blue/orange flame toward the hills Readable here
- Sgt. Sam Chavez reportedly arrived shortly after the sighting and observed physical site conditions Readable here
- Hynek reportedly visited Socorro, interviewed Zamora and examined the site, which had already been disturbed by onlookers and press Primary record linked
- Hynek reportedly judged Zamora credible and publicity-averse, rejected White Sands/Bell lunar-lander test explanations, and considered a hoax difficult given the marks and lack of tracks; Socorro later described as a turning point for him (Rosetta Stone quote) Readable here
- Maj. Hector Quintanilla allegedly called Socorro his most puzzling case No document yet
- Elizondo recounts Socorro, including other motorists, an explosion-like sound and a separate white butane-tank-shaped object, and compares Zamora's oval object to the 2004 Nimitz Tic Tac Readable here
- Allegation that Capt. Holder / Blue Book withheld Zamora's true insignia and gave the press a decoy to screen out hoax reports Accounts / secondary only
- Capt. Richard T. Holder, White Sands Up-Range Commander, named as military investigator of the Socorro case Readable here
- FBI agent D. Arthur Byrnes Jr. named as participating in the Socorro investigation Readable here
On the timeline (2)
- 1964-04-24 Socorro / Lonnie Zamora Unverified
- 1964-04-28 Hynek reportedly visits Socorro (28-29 April), interviews Zamora and examines the disturbed site Reported