Piano playing key to pilot’s success

World War 2 pilot Don Urlwin, sitting in the cockpit of a P-3C Orion with a photo of himself during his flying days. Photo by ACW Sonja Inderwisch

A WORLD War 2 veteran who credits his success as a pilot to playing the piano recently paid a visit to aircrew at No. 10 Squadron, RAAF Base Edinburgh.

Don Urlwin joined the Air Force on April 16, 1943, as an Aircraftsman Class 2 gunner, although he had a burning ambition to become a pilot. After putting “Saturdays and Sundays on hold” to study, he was able to reach this goal. He believes that being able to play the piano gave him the necessary coordination needed to fly aircraft of that era.

Undertaking initial pilot training in Tiger Moths at Benalla, Mr Urlwin – who ended his flying career as a Warrant Officer on October 9, 1945 – later flew in a variety of aircraft, including Wirraway, Oxford, Mosquito and Swordfish.

He recalled the excellence in Air Force pilot training and the need to remember drills, especially when flying the Wirraway.

“They were called flying coffins in those days because they were dicey to fly,” he said.

During one flight his engine cut out and he thought a crash was inevitable. Then he remembered “cockpit drill, cockpit drill”, grabbed the handle of the “wobble pump” and worked it furiously. The engine spluttered back to life and he managed to safely land. He then realised the main fuel tank was empty so he flicked the switch on the auxiliary tank before leaving the cockpit.

Following training, he and many other airmen boarded a passenger ship without any knowledge of their destination. He remembers the ship going in different directions on a daily basis. It was only later the passengers heard rumours of a Japanese submarine pack in pursuit on a search and destroy mission.

After three weeks at sea they were ready to disembark in the Panama Canal but shore leave was cancelled at the last minute.

“That was most upsetting for all of us and we decided to go anyway. The Americans soon manned the planks with Tommy guns; they were fair dinkum about stopping us. We decided not to be brave and stayed on board.”

Another adventure found Don and a mate in the English city of Bath. A sleek black chauffeur-driven car pulled up and the elderly lady passenger asked if they would like a lift. She asked about Australia and how they were doing. At a later date they discovered the “lady” was in fact Queen Mary herself.

Don also clearly remembers a particular patrol along the English coastline where he noticed a black mass in the distance.

“As we got closer I realised the sky was full of aircraft flying eastward. I hadn’t been radioed information but had an idea of what was about to occur.” The event was D-Day.

Mr Urlwin describes himself as adventurous and lucky to come out of the war years alive.

After reminiscing with aircrew about his adventures, he was lucky enough to “try his hand” in the Orion simulator. To his surprise, he still has the golden touch.

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