More than 13,000 men were killed during WWII era flight training. “Learn and Live with Joe Instructor” was an attempt to lower the number of losses, by emphasizing to pilots how to fly safely, and not give into the urge or temptation to hot dog, show off or not pay attention in the sky. “Learn And Live” was produced by the First Motion Picture Unit of the Army Air Forces that presents reenactments of fatal accidents caused by common pilot errors. The film’s story is based on “Joe Instructor” going to “Pilot Heaven” where he talks with Saint Peter about the loss of a number of good pilots to unnecessary mistakes. The film incorporates humor despite attempting to stress the severe consequences of not following protocol or staying focused while flying. The film opens with Joe Instructor walking up a staircase through clouds on his way to the gates of “Pilot Heaven.” He greets Saint Peter and observes a group of “angel” pilots milling around and engaging in day-to-day activities: getting a haircut, painting, playing pool. The film then recaps the stories of how some of the pilots died. A pilot, “Mr. Nonchalant,” lands a North American T-6 Texan on a runway and unfastens his safety belt before stopping the plane. He doesn’t pay attention to the final moments of his landing and crashes into a barrier at the end of the runway (4:33). Another pilot flies a T-6 and waits too long to clear his engine during his landing, leading to a crash. Men from the base jump into trucks and race to the crash site where the T-6 is in flames. A pilot rushes to a T-6 and neglects to check the oil temperature. He taxis out on the runway and takes off (08:47), then he stalls the plane and crashes. An animation of the oil temperature gauge yells at the dying pilot. Two pilots climb into a Consolidated B-24 Liberator and run through the flight check (11:07) but cut it short. The bomber won’t take off because of extended wing flaps, and the ship is about to crash into a hanger. Men and women dance to a live band at a club (12:49). “Jack Pilot” slowly dances with a woman; later, he daydreams of the girl while flying a plane and forgets to put his wheels down. He crashes the plane during the landing. The film shows fields of oil wells (15:20), oil refineries, and a locomotive hauling oil tanks. A pilot climbs into a Bell P-39 Airacobra and flies it over a mountain range (17:20); the plane is out of gas and the pilot is killed in the crash. Another pilot lands a P-39 too hard on the runway (19:13), bouncing the plane and causing damage to the landing gear and a wing. He checks the sprung landing gear but fails to report the damage. His friend climbs into the damaged P-39 and flies it into a vertical dive for an authorized flight test (21:44), but the plane falls apart. A model of the plane demonstrates the wing ripping off the aircraft and the ship spiraling into a crash. Pilots work in an operations room. The film shows a runway under construction. The film then cuts to a Broadway musical show where a woman sings to the audience (24:28). St. Peter looks through a telescope down at a pilot who is getting his orders. The pilot climbs into a T-6 and starts up the engine (27:50). As he flies, he listens to a radio program and doesn’t fully realize he is flying into bad weather. The film shows the burning wreckage of his crash on a mountain side. A group of “angel” pilots sing a song about the wreck (31:00). Young cadets of the Army Air Force march in full parade (31:18). The film ends with a pilot climbing into a biplane—what appears to be a Steamans B-1—and performing some aerobatic maneuvers.