One of the most successful USAAF fighter bombers in World War II was the P-47, which was also used initially by the Eighth Air Force as a fighter interceptor. It was robust, reliable and able to withstand heavy impacts. The D series was the most produced version. First delivered in 1949, Balls Out served in the Venezuelan Air Force, ending its military service as a gate guardian in Caracas, Venezuela. In 1995 it was returned to the U.S. and underwent a complete restoration to airworthy condition by Pacific Fighters in Idaho Falls, Idaho. All original equipment was overhauled and reinstalled, including the fully operational turbo system.