Socorro Egg-Shaped Craft
Police officer Lonnie Zamora found a landed UFO with two small beings in white coveralls. Physical traces remained at the site for investigation. The Air Force called it one of the best-documented cases.
The Police Officer’s Landing
On April 24, 1964, Socorro, New Mexico police officer Lonnie Zamora witnessed a landed egg-shaped craft with two small occupants near the desert highway. The physical evidence left behind made it one of the most credible UFO cases in history.
The Witness
Officer Lonnie Zamora:
- Socorro Police Department
- On patrol
- Chasing speeder
- Heard roar
- Saw flame
The Investigation
Zamora diverted:
- Thought explosion
- Left speeder chase
- Drove toward source
- Found landed craft
- Two beings present
The Craft
What he saw:
- Egg-shaped
- White/aluminum color
- On legs
- Red insignia
- About 15 feet long
The Beings
Two occupants:
- Small figures
- White coveralls
- Near the craft
- Appeared surprised
- Re-entered craft
The Departure
What happened:
- Beings got in
- Craft lifted off
- Flame beneath
- Loud roar
- Flew away rapidly
Physical Evidence
What remained:
- Landing marks
- Four impressions
- Burned brush
- Fused sand
- Ground traces
The Insignia
Zamora’s drawing:
- Red symbol
- On craft side
- Arrow/chevron design
- Unique marking
- Documented
Investigation
Multiple agencies:
- FBI investigated
- Air Force (Blue Book)
- Army examined site
- Extensive inquiry
- Well-documented
Dr. Hynek’s Assessment
Blue Book consultant:
- Called it best case
- Visited site
- Interviewed Zamora
- Found credible
- Unexplained
The Ground Traces
Analysis showed:
- Four landing impressions
- Rectangular pattern
- Consistent depth
- Burned vegetation
- Physical evidence
Zamora’s Credibility
Investigators found:
- Exemplary officer
- No history of claims
- Shaken by experience
- Consistent account
- Reliable witness
Attempted Explanations
Theories rejected:
- Not hoax
- Not balloon
- Not aircraft
- Not hallucination
- Genuinely unexplained
Significance
Physical trace case with credible witness investigated by multiple agencies and found unexplained.
Legacy
The Socorro case established the gold standard for UFO landings—physical evidence, a credible witness, and official acknowledgment of the unexplained.