The “Alamogordo Non-Human Entity” and the 1964 Holloman AFB Alien Encounter: Fact, Fiction, or Enduring UFO Legend?

Alamogordo, NM — December 19, 2025 — Tucked in the high desert near the White Sands Missile Range, Holloman Air Force Base has long been a hotspot for UFO lore but much more subtle than in Roswell. One of the most persistent stories claims that in 1964, a dramatic “close encounter of the third kind” unfolded right on the base’s tarmac: three disc-shaped craft descended, one landed, and non-human entities stepped out to meet stunned Air Force and CIA personnel. This tale—referred to in military lore as the “Alamogordo Non-Human Entity Incident.” The incident, whatever actually occurred, has fueled decades of speculation, with some even linking it to Steven Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) as a loosely inspired retelling.

The Core Allegation

According to the legend told by some stationed at Alamogordo’s military installations, sometime in April or May 1964 (dates vary in accounts), radar at Holloman tracked a highly classified incident resulting in three unidentified objects approaching the base. One craft appeared to wobble or struggle before landing in the sands. A ramp extended, and a “nonhuman entity”—emerged. They allegedly carried a device resembling a translator, military staff interacted with the entities, and base command officers in a pre-arranged meeting exchanged primates. The encounter was reportedly filmed on 16mm by military cameras, with footage allegedly shown to select insiders and remains highly classified.

The story was recently recounted by James Fox on a 2023 episode of the Julian Dorey podcast. He said the government definitely has footage of it.

The story gained traction in the 1970s through filmmaker Robert Emenegger, who claimed in his documentary UFOs: Past, Present, and Future (1974, re-released as UFOs: It Has Begun) that the Department of Defense promised him authentic footage of a 1964 Holloman landing for the film. He was told to portray it as hypothetical after the promise fell through—possibly due to political reasons like Watergate. Emenegger later said he viewed the film, describing three beings exiting the craft and others reported the monkey exchange.

More recently, a 2025 Amazon Prime documentary, The Age of Disclosure, revived the claim via astrophysicist Eric Davis (former Pentagon AATIP advisor). Davis alleged that former President George H.W. Bush, in a 2003 private conversation, confirmed hearing about the event: “three craft approached, one landed, and a “non-human entity” interacted with personnel. Bush reportedly learned of it after leaving office.

The “Primate Farm” Connection

Some versions tie the incident to the “Alamogordo Prinate Farm” or primate research facility in Alamogordo and with research done at Holloman in the 1960s also via NASA, allegedly used to prepare for “interactive contact.”

This part of the story leading to its credibility by some stems from Holloman’s real history: The base hosted chimpanzee and monkey experiments in the 1950s–1960s for space program testing (e.g., Project Mercury precursors). Some of the chimpanzees remained on Holloman until this year when the final ones were placed in a sanctuary.

Conspiracy theorists speculate this chimpanzee farm was cover for preparing to interact with non-human alien entities and space travel research, but no credible evidence supports a direct link to aliens that has been released, as of yet. Some speculate this is nothing more than a conspiracy.

However, Vice President JD Vance during a press interaction in Pennsylvania, responding to White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles calling him a “conspiracy theorist for a decade” in a Vanity Fair interview, Vance said: “Sometimes I am a conspiracy theorist, but I only believe in the conspiracy theories that are true.”

Vice President JD Vance has publicly expressed fascination with UFOs (now called Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena or UAPs) and extraterrestrial possibilities, but he frames them through a spiritual/religious lens rather than pure sci-fi or government cover-up conspiracies. He has described himself as a “mad UFO lunatic” and admitted being “obsessed” with the topic, promising to investigate classified files. However, there’s no evidence he has commented on or endorsed the specific 1964 Holloman AFB alien encounter, as of yet.

Vance’s Stated Beliefs on UFOs and Extraterrestrials

In multiple interviews (e.g., on the Ruthless Podcast in August 2025 and Pod Force One with Miranda Devine in October 2025), Vance said he’s deeply interested in UFOs and plans to “get to the bottom” of them using his access to classified information.

Vance has a history of engaging with fringe or controversial ideas (e.g., questioning 2020 election integrity, UFOs as potential “spiritual forces” like angels/demons). He often positions himself as skeptical of mainstream narratives, but he doesn’t broadly declare all conspiracies as facts—only those he believes are vindicated.

What makes the Alamogordo Non-Human Entity Incident,” unique and exciting to ponder getting the Vice Presidents attention?

The story’s vivid details—landing craft, beings meeting officials—echo the climactic scene in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, where aliens land and interact peacefully. Some ufologists argue Spielberg drew inspiration from Holloman lore, possibly via insider leaks. The 1964 date also aligns closely with the famous Socorro, NM sighting (April 24, 1964), where officer Lonnie Zamora saw an egg-shaped craft and two small beings. The chimpanzee exchange would be a logical step for earthly beings to take. Especially given the chimpanzee space research was happening in Alamogordo and the US Government has maintained their presence on Holloman until only recently.

Debunking and Skepticism

Despite its allure, the incident remains unverified and widely regarded as a conspiracy theory. No official records, declassified documents, or National Archives files have been released to date to confirm a 1964 landing.

Holloman’s real activities—missile tests, balloon launches (Project Mogul), and space research—could explain radar blips or lights.

The U.S. Air Force has consistently denied extraterrestrial involvement, attributing most sightings to experimental tech or misidentifications.

Why It Endures

The Holloman legend persists because it combines tantalizing “what ifs”: government secrecy, insider claims, and a peaceful first contact scenario far from Roswell’s crash narrative. Recent documentaries keep it alive, fueling online discussions.

In Alamogordo, where Holloman looms large, locals often share these tales around campfires or at the Toy Train Depot. Whether fact, folklore, or clever disinformation, the “Non-Human Entity and Primate Exchange” story reminds us that the desert skies still hold mysteries—and that sometimes, the truth is stranger than fiction.

Will Vice President JD Vance someday vindicate the Alamogordo Non-Human Entity and Monkey Exchange Incident as a former conspiracy but in reality fact?  Will the conspiracy be proven as fact based on evidence JD Vance declassifies concerning UFO encounters? Stay tuned….

Have you heard local whispers about Holloman’s, alien visits “ghosts on New York Avenue ” or seen anything unusual near White Sands? Share in the comments!

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