Delivered to the US Navy as J4F-2 Bu32976 on 21 Sep 1943. Transferred to Edo Aircraft Corp in Jan 1947 for hull development work. Went through several hull designs, of which this was the last one. The converted Widgeon was nicknamed "Petulant Porpoise" in early 1948, and loaned to NACA (later NASA) from 28 Feb 1950 until 8 Jun 1953. Effective 15 Dec 1952 the US Navy consistently used the non-standard type designation E-175 for this aircraft. Struck off charge 8 Feb 1956 (total time 975 hours) and stored at Norfolk NAS, VA. Delivered to the National Air Museum (Smithsonian) on 15 Sep 1960, but kept in storage. To the Fighter Aircraft Museum on 14 Feb 1977, and again kept in storage. Loaned to the Pima Air Museum in 1987.

As flown by the National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA), Langley Field, VA in 1948

Modified lower fuselage for water landing tests.

This Widgeon entered service with the Navy in Sept. 1943 until her handover in 1948 for seaplane hull design testing. During this time she acquired the name 'Petulant Porpoise' and became the last Widgeon to be retired from USN service in 1954. Subsequently traded between various museums, she arrived at the Pima Air & Space museum in 1987 for display.