Alfred Burke Thompson, born Penetanguishene, Ontario, 1915, died Penetanguishene, 1985, was a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force, the first Canadian taken prisoner in World War II, and a survivor of Stalag Luft III escape. Thompson joined the RCAF in 1936. He was a member of an RAF crew taken prisoner on Sept. 8, 1939, when their plane was shot down over eastern Germany. Canada was not officially at war with Germany until the following day.Thompson was taken to Berlin and made to pose in propaganda photos with Luftwaffe chief Hermann Goerring. Those pictures may later have saved his life.