The New Mexico Armada

From March 17-18, 1950, the small town of Farmington, New Mexico witnessed what newspapers called a “flying saucer armada.” Hundreds of witnesses watched as an estimated 500+ objects flew in formation over the town for three consecutive days.

The Location

Farmington, NM:

• Northwestern New Mexico
• Near Four Corners
• Small town
• Clear skies
• Perfect viewing

Day One

March 17, 1950:

• St. Patrick’s Day
• Objects appeared
• Multiple formations
• Hundreds watched
• Town stopped

The Scale

What was seen:

• Estimated 500+ objects
• In formations
• Different altitudes
• Extended duration
• Overwhelming

Witness Count

Mass sighting:

• Half the town
• Thousands watched
• Business stopped
• Schools emptied
• Everyone saw

The Newspaper

Farmington Daily Times:

• Front page coverage
• “Crafts Seen by Hundreds”
• Local journalist
• Multiple interviews
• Historic record

The Objects

Descriptions:

• Disc-shaped
• Silver/white
• High altitude
• Formation flying
• Maneuvering

Flight Patterns

Observed behavior:

• Flying in groups
• Changing formation
• High speed
• Hovering at times
• Coordinated

Duration

Three days:

• March 17
• March 18
• Possible March 19
• Extended event
• Multiple opportunities

Weather Conditions

Clear skies:

• Perfect visibility
• No explanation
• Not balloons
• Not aircraft
• Unknown

Official Response

Air Force:

• Sent investigators
• From nearby bases
• Interviewed witnesses
• Conclusion: unknown
• File exists

Theories Proposed

Explanations suggested:

• Weather balloons (dismissed)
• Secret aircraft (unlikely)
• Mass hysteria (insufficient)
• Unknown
• Never resolved

The Report

Local newspaper coverage:

• Detailed accounts
• Witness names
• Time stamps
• Professional journalism
• Primary source

Historical Context

1950:

• Early UFO era
• Post-Kenneth Arnold
• Before Blue Book
• Growing phenomenon
• Historic period

Significance

Mass sighting over three days with newspaper documentation and thousands of witnesses—one of the largest early UFO events.

Legacy

The Farmington Armada represents one of the most dramatic mass UFO sightings in American history—an entire town watching hundreds of objects for days.