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Copper Bust Of Orville Wright Found On Beach At Kill Devil Hills

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Published Date

October 15, 2019
Copper bust of Orville Wright recovered at Kill Devil Hills beach/NPS

Copper bust of Orville Wright recovered at Kill Devil Hills beach/NPS

A copper bust of Orville Wright that was stolen from Wright Brothers National Memorial was recovered Tuesday on the beach in Kill Devil Hills.

The bust was spotted a little before 3:30 pm. local time by a beach visitor, who called the Dare County non-emergency line to report that the reproduction bust was “tucked” into the dunes.

A Kill Devil Hills officer was dispatched and arrived on the scene at 3:36 p.m. National Park Service personnel arrived on the scene shortly after the Kill Devil Hills officer confirmed that it was the stolen bust of Orville Wright.

“While we are pleased that the bust of Orville Wright has been found, we are fully investigating this incident in order to determine who stole the bust and caused damage to its granite mounting base,” said David Hallac, superintendent of the National Parks of Eastern North Carolina.

The bust of Wright, who made history with his brother in 1903 when they achieved the first manned flight, was stolen from the national memorial sometime late last Saturday or early Sunday morning.  The thieves damaged the granite pedestal in the act of stealing the bust, which was paired with one of Orville's brother, Wilbur. 

Thieves made off with the bust of Orville sometime late Saturday or early Sunday/NPS

The thieves damaged the granite pedestal that the bust stood on/NPS

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Comments

Submitted by ecbuck on October 15, 2019 - 8:44pm.

Is that the one vandalized during the government shutdown?  Glad it was recovered.  Now find the Awholes and prosecute to the fullest.  


Submitted by Tim Murphy on October 16, 2019 - 10:02am.

 

I visited Orville and Wilbur there last Thursday and had my picture taken with both of them. 

 

Some thieves have no shame.  Wise guy college kids on fall break or Halloween dopes?

 

Thanks be to God Wilbur has been rescued.


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