In the summer of 1945, a remarkable incident unfolded near San Antonio, New Mexico, that continues to captivate UFO researchers, historians, and skeptics alike. This event, witnessed by a young boy named Jose Padilla, involved a mysterious avocado-shaped aircraft and the appearance of small, human-like beings unlike anything seen before. Decades later, Jose’s story has inspired federal investigations and reignited discussions about extraterrestrial encounters coinciding with pivotal moments in human history.

A Childhood Shattered by Mystery

Jose Padilla was only nine years old when he first became part of an extraordinary event that began against the backdrop of the Trinity atomic bomb test, the world’s first detonation of a nuclear device in New Mexico’s White Sands area. Jose vividly recalls the ominous glow of the mushroom cloud, visible from miles away, as he drank chocolate milk in his kitchen.

A month after the bomb test, Jose and his friend were out riding on his father’s ranch when they heard a strange boom. At first, Jose thought it was another atomic test, but his friend observed smoke rising directly from the ground—nearby, an unusual, avocado-shaped craft had apparently crashed. Suddenly, three small beings emerged from the wreckage. According to Jose’s account, these creatures resembled extraterrestrials portrayed in later movies—walking upright but with the appearance of large fire ants on two legs.

Far from frightened, Jose felt a sense of compassion for these beings, understanding that they might have needed assistance. For ten days, military personnel worked to clear the crash site, while Jose and his friend secretly observed from a nearby ridge. During a military break, the boys bravely entered the craft, finding the creatures gone but spotting a small, mysterious dial inside. Jose took the dial home, where it remained hidden for years.

Scientific Inquiry Meets Mystery

In 2015, the artifact Jose had preserved underwent chemical analysis by Frontier Analysis, an Ohio-based laboratory. Results revealed the dial was composed of a mix of aluminum, silicon, and copper—metals commonly used in industrial engine parts. Intriguingly, while the isotopic ratios were consistent with terrestrial materials, the researchers stopped short of ruling out a non-earthly origin.

Despite this tantalizing clue, conclusive evidence about the object’s origin remains elusive. For Jose, however, the authenticity of his experience is undiminished, even in the face of skepticism and accusations of fabricating his story.

Contextualizing the Encounter: A Broader Phenomenon

Renowned religion professor and ufologist Jeffery Kripal of Rice University classifies Jose as an “experiencer”—someone who has directly encountered phenomena that defy ordinary explanation. Kripal notes that stories like Jose’s are not isolated, pointing to a vast history of similar reports dating as far back as biblical times, such as the enigmatic "wheels within wheels" described in Ezekiel’s vision.

A recurring theme in these reports is their connection to moments of nuclear significance or environmental threat. Kripal suggests that these encounters might be a form of communication—perhaps humanity confronting itself about its destructive ways through the haunting symbolism of alien visitation.

Official Recognition and Continuing Questions

Credence to the 1945 incident has been bolstered by the fact that it has caught the attention of federal agencies. In a major policy shift spearheaded by the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, the official government investigation into UFO phenomena has been extended backward to include cases starting in 1945 rather than the more commonly assumed 1947 Roswell incident. This move highlights a growing awareness that challenges to our understanding of reality may have been unfolding quietly for decades.

Investigative reporter Paula Harris, who extensively researched the case, compiled additional physical evidence such as the scorched circular patch at the crash site where vegetation failed to grow—a classic hallmark of intense, localized radiation exposure typical of such mysterious crashes.

Echoes Through Time

For Jose Padilla, the encounter has remained a central, defining memory throughout his life. Now 87, he lives quietly in Roland Heights, New Mexico, with the simple hope of uncovering the truth about those enigmatic beings and their strange craft. To Jose, their existence is unquestionable, and the object he unearthed stands as a silent testament to an event far beyond the ordinary.

His story resounds not only as an individual account but as a symbol of humanity’s enduring intrigue with the unknown—a narrative linking atomic age anxieties with visions of extraterrestrial visitors, and a reminder that sometimes, history may be stranger than fiction.

In Conclusion

The 1945 UFO encounter near New Mexico, as told by Jose Padilla, offers a profound glimpse into a mysterious chapter of post-war America—where atomic power and unexplained phenomena converged. While proof remains scarce and skepticism persists, the incident challenges us to expand our horizons and explore the possibility that otherworldly experiences have been quietly shaping human history all along.