N789 was in service with the US Navy until being surplused to the US Fish & Wildlife Service in 1956. The immortal Grumman has flown all over Alaska from the Aleutian Islands to the Arctic Ocean throughout its service life. The Goose, N789, was donated to the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum by the US Department of Interior in 1997 through the efforts of Senator Ted Stevens.

The Grumman Goose was originally designed as a commuter plane for wealthy businessmen and sportsman located in and around New York City The aircraft first few in 1937 and was in production until 1945. Total production was 345 aircraft. The aircraft had several designations, G-21A was the civil designation, in the Navy it was the JRF-1 thru 6 and the Army called it the OA-9 and OA-13. The G-21B did not have landing gear and at least five were built under this designation, one was sold to Portugal.

There were a number of post war modifications to the Goose; some of these added turbine engines, extended the fuselage to increase the seating capacity or did both. There is one that added 4 Lycoming engines, one that added Garrett turbines and extended the cockpit to seat four.

This aircraft, Grumman JRF-5, Navy Bureau number 84807 was accepted by the Navy at the Grumman factory in Bethpage, NY on November 29, 1944.

Tom Wardleigh, then with the US Fish & Wildlife Service, departed Phoenix ferrying the aircraft to Anchorage, Territory of Alaska on 3 February 1956. His route was, Phoenix, AZ--San Francisco, CA--Eugene, OR--Portland, OR--Bremerton, WA--Port Hardy, AK--Ketchikan, AK--Juneau, AK--Anchorage, Territory of AK and it took ten days.

On the 5th of September, 1960 the aircraft was damaged by an explosion, in the cabin, while on the beach delivering fuel to a research camp at Karluk Lake, AK. Temporary repairs were made to return the aircraft to Anchorage, AK. Repairs were completed to return the aircraft to service in September 1964.

The aircraft was sold, transferring title to the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum on 24 October 1996.

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