San Antonio, New Mexico: Alleged UFO Crash Discovery

Incident Details On August 16, 1945, near San Antonio, New Mexico, approximately 18 miles from the Trinity test site, two young boys encountered wreckage. Jose Padilla (age 9) and Remigio Baca (age 7) were searching for livestock when they discovered a metallic object with a visible ground impression. They reported observing small entities near the debris and collected metallic fragments.

Recovery Operation According to witness accounts, military personnel in uniform conducted a retrieval operation between August 20-25, 1945, loading debris onto a transport vehicle. A military representative allegedly visited the family, attributing the incident to a weather balloon crash.

Evidence and Analysis The witnesses retained metallic samples. Subsequent metallurgical examination indicated the material was of terrestrial origin, not extraterrestrial composition.

Credibility Assessment Research published in 2023 concluded the witnesses fabricated the narrative in 2003 for financial gain. The account incorporated real individuals (state officer Eddie Apodaca) as characters, and witness testimony evolved significantly over decades, raising substantial questions about reliability.