'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.
Interview Links
Feature Excerpt
Foods He Missed
Abstract
Interview Session 01 (Audio)
Growing up during the Depression & B-17 flight training
Interview Session 02 (Audio)
Air combat over occupied Holland & life with Dutch underground
Interview Session 03 (Audio)
Belton's return to the U.S. and life after WW II
Transcript
Related Materials
Memorial Day – 2013
Video From the Greatest Generation Theater
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:
Denver, Colorado
When:
July, 1943
Ownership:
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:
Denver, Colorado
When:
July, 1943
Ownership:
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:
Unknown
When:
Circa 1944
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.
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, Florida
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 war
Ownership:
Narrator’s photo
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 Holland
When:
May/June of 1978.
Ownership:
May be restricted. Patrons desiring to use this photograph should contact the ALPL Audio-Visual Curator.
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 1980
Ownership:
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:
Springfield
When:
1980
Ownership:
This image is considered to be in the public domain.