CASE HISTORY

The Socorro UFO Incident

A police officers close encounter and the official investigation by Project Blue Book

On April 24th, 1964, a quiet afternoon in the dusty New Mexico town of Socorro took a sharp turn into the bizarre when police officer Lonnie Zamora claimed to have witnessed something landed in the New Mexico desert, sparking an official investigation by Project Blue Book and solidifying the event as one of the most well-documented close encounters in UFO history.

Who Was Lonnie Zamora?

Born and raised in New Mexico, Lonnie Zamora was a deeply grounded man, known more for routine rather than imagination. At the time of the sighting, he’d been a Socorro police officer for several years. Locals would often describe him as “quiet, dependable, and completely straight-laced.” He didn’t drink, didn’t chase the spotlight, and had a reputation for telling the truth, even when it wasn’t convenient. His job required him to observe and report clearly, a skill that would prove crucial during his close encounter. His calm demeanor and law enforcement training made him a credible witness from the start.

Unlike many UFO reports that come from anonymous tips or clear misidentifications, Zamora’s background immediately gave weight to his…