Originally delivered to the USAF as 50-180 on 23 Jul 1951, and transferred to the Italian Air Force on 20 May 1958 through the MDAP - Mutual Defense Assistance act Programme. It had been withdrawn from use by 1980 and was placed on display at Cuneo Airport at Levaldigi some years later. Unfortunately the Albatross did not receive much attention, and as can be seen here its condition in 2010 was not good. In 2014 the aircraft was dismantled and trucked to France for restoration and display.

After its service with the Italian Air Force as MM50-180, this Albatross was preserved at the airport of Cuneo, Levaldigi, Italy for more than 20 years. In January 2014 it was acquired by the Musée de l'Hydraviation at Latécoère near Biscarrosse, France and it was delivered to the museum by road in June 2014. The Grumman was fully restored in these USAF colours with its original serial, and on 14 May 2018 it was placed on display as seen here. The number 0180 on the tail is from its original serial 50-180 with which the aircraft was originally delivered to the USAF on on 23 Jul 1951.