THINK ABOUTIT UFO|ENTITY SIGHTING REPORT
Date: August 25 1952
Sighting Time: 7:35 pm
Day/Night:
Location: Near Maxatawny Pennsylvania
Urban or Rural: Rural
Hynek Classification: CE-III (Close Encounter III) Close observation with animate beings associated with the object.
Duration: about 7 minutes
No. of Object(s): 1
Size of Object(s): 25 foot
Distance to Object(s): 30 feet away.
Shape of Object(s): The object was surrounded by a ring of jet pipes and featured portholes through which light and movement were visible.
Color of Object(s): shiny
Number of Witnesses: 1 – On August 25, 1952, at 7:35 pm, witness Herbert Long observed a 25-foot shiny dome-shaped object hovering 15 feet above a field
Special Features/Characteristics: movement were seen through portholes.
Source: Richard Hall
Summary/Description: A 25 foot shiny dome shaped object surrounded by a ring of jet pipes was seen by Herbert Long hovering 15 ft above a field about 30 feet away. It stayed there for about 7 minutes, then rose 15 ft and took off at tremendous velocity. Light and some movement were seen through portholes. Subsequently Long returned repeatedly to the site and “made 4 or 5 contacts over the following 6 to 8 months;” he was invited inside the craft. They are “observations discs” from Jupiter, piloted by men like us but more advanced, who eat no meat, and want to be friends to humans.
Historical Context: The 1950s Contactee Movement
“The account provided by Herbert Long fits prominently into the ‘contactee’ subculture of the 1950s, a period characterized by witnesses claiming recurring, friendly interactions with advanced beings from within our own solar system. Unlike the more harrowing abduction narratives that became common in later decades, early cases like this one often featured ‘Space Brothers’—benevolent, human-looking entities from planets like Jupiter or Venus—who were purportedly concerned with humanity’s atomic progress and spiritual well-being.
Long’s description of the craft’s interior and his invitation to join the crew echo the experiences of famous contemporary contactees like George Adamski. This specific event in Berks County is a significant regional example of how global UFO trends manifested in local Pennsylvania lore. It highlights a unique era when the phenomenon was often viewed through a lens of interstellar diplomacy and cosmic friendship rather than strictly as a military threat.”
The encounter reported by Herbert Long remains a fascinating case study in the transition from simple aerial observations to complex Close Encounters of the Third Kind (CE-III). By combining specific mechanical details, such as the “ring of jet pipes,” with the philosophical messages of the “Space Brothers,” this report encapsulates the unique spirit of the early 1950s UFO wave. Whether viewed as a literal interstellar visitation or a significant piece of regional folklore, the Maxatawny sighting continues to serve as a vital link in Pennsylvania’s rich history of unidentified phenomena.
