'Tuck' Belton joined the Army Air Force in the summer of 1942, and after a rigorous training regimen, was piloting a B-17 on bombing raids in Germany by January, 1945. He was shot down over Holland while returning from his fifth mission, and spent the remainder of his war with the Dutch underground, assisting with missions while they eluded the Germans. He was finally smuggled out of enemy occupied territory in April, and soon returned to the states.
Photos
Caption
Tuck and Virginia Belton’s wedding portrait. The two were married in July, 1943 in Denver while Tuck was attending Denver University at the beginning of his training as a pilot. Where:
DenverWhen:
July, 1943Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption
Tuck and Virginia Belton’s wedding portrait with best man Wayne Bell and bride’s maid Doreen Campbell. The two were married in Denver in July, 1943. Where:
DenverWhen:
July, 1943Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
Caption
Kenneth ‘Tuck’ Belton’s official Army Air Force photo, taken circa 1944 after he had earned his wings.Where:
UnknownWhen:
Circa 1944Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
Caption
Painting of the “Chicken House” in rural Holland where Belton hid out with the Dutch underground from Jan 20-Mar 1, 1945. The oil painting was done by Ab A. Jansen of Oudorp,Netherlands, and presented to Tuck on his visit to Midwoud, New Holland.Where:
Rural HollandWhen:
May/June of 1978.Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.)
Caption
Lieutenant Belton relaxes with some army buddies in Miami Beach in following his escape from occupied Europe and return to the United States. Where:
Miami Beach When:
May, 1945 Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Tuck and Virginia Belton share a meal with friends Guy Shine and Evabelle at the shortly after the war. Where:
Lake Club in Springfield When:
Shortly after the warOwnership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Tuck Belton hosted a delegation of Dutch officials, and former members of the Dutch underground at his house in Jerome, Illinois in the spring of 1980.Where:
Jerome, Illinois When:
Spring of 1980Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
Caption
Tuck Belton received this Certificate from the Assistant Commander of the North Holland Resistance Forces, ‘Kick’ (wartime code name) Bohler, during Bohler’s visit. Bohler’s group had rescued Belton after Belton’s B-17 was shot down in January, 1945.Where:
SpringfieldWhen:
1980Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.