The bronze statue of Amelia Earhart stolen from a municipal park in Newfoundland, Canada, in April 2025 has been returned, repaired, and reinstalled on the 94th anniversary (May 20) of her takeoff from Harbour Grace to become the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.
The community of Harbour Grace never forgot its role in the historic aviation event, and there was great concern when thieves made off with the Earhart statue and the commemorative plaque. It was found four months later by a woman walking her dog in a wooded area.
The statue, which has been on display at the park since 2007, had been cut into pieces. Local police have not located the persons responsible for the statute’s removal and dismantling. When the statue and plaque disappeared, there were concerns that the thieves would try to melt them down for scrap.
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It was a relief to find the statue and all the parts. Law enforcement are still trying to find the culprits.
The job of putting Earhart back together fell to Morgan MacDonald, a well-known bronze sculptor in Newfoundland and Labrador. The project took the better part of a year.
According to local newspaper reports, the ceremony to unveil the statue was a celebratory affair with music, speeches, an Amelia Earhart impersonator, and a flyover organized by the local chapter of the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association.
The Famous Flight
On May 20, 1932, Earhart launched her Lockheed 5B Vega heading east. It was five years earlier to the day that Charles Lindbergh launched from Roosevelt Field in Garden City, New York.
Earhart’s departure was not meant to be on the same day as Lindbergh’s—her launch date was predicated on finding the best weather. She also intended to fly to Paris, but not long after takeoff, she encountered heavy rain and headwinds, and the aircraft developed a fuel leak. A manifold weld cracked, resulting in flames outside of the engine cowling.
Earhart used smelling salts to combat fatigue during the journey. Some 14 hours and 56 minutes later, she landed in a cow pasture in Derry, Northern Ireland.
