On April 24, 1964, Socorro, New Mexico police officer Lonnie Zamora reported a close encounter with a shiny, egg-shaped object and two small figures near a remote arroyo. The object, which appeared to be resting on legs, ascended with a roaring sound and blue and orange flames after Zamora approached.1 The incident is considered one of the most credible and perplexing UFO cases due to the detailed testimony of a trained police officer and the presence of physical evidence at the scene.2
The Encounter
Officer Zamora was pursuing a speeding car when he heard a loud roar and saw a flame in the sky. Believing it might be an explosion at a nearby dynamite shack, he diverted to investigate. Upon reaching a desolate arroyo, he observed a shiny, whitish, egg-shaped object, approximately car-sized, resting on four legs. He briefly saw two figures in white coveralls near the object, describing them as "normal in shape—but possibly they were small adults or large kids."3 As Zamora got closer, he heard two metallic sounds, like doors closing, followed by a blue and orange flame beneath the object. It then rose 20-30 feet, hovered, and slowly moved away towards a canyon.4
Investigation and Physical Evidence
Zamora immediately contacted his dispatcher, and New Mexico State Police Sergeant Sam Chavez arrived shortly after. Investigators found compelling physical evidence at the scene, including four indentations in the ground consistent with landing marks, and burned areas of grass and brush where the object had reportedly been.5 The U.S. Air Force's Project Blue Book, which investigated UFO sightings, classified the Lonnie Zamora case as "unknown," with its head, Major Hector Quintanilla, stating it was the most puzzling UFO case he had encountered.6 While some conventional explanations, such as a lunar lander test or a hoax, have been proposed, no definitive evidence has emerged to support them, leaving the case officially unresolved.7