Date:  Sun, 18 Jan 1998 09:08:40 EST
From:  Bapopik <Bapopik[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]AOL.COM>
Subject: Dilbert (U.S. Navy cartoons, 1943)

   As stated in "Dilbert for WOTY," the RHHDAS has "dilbert" from 1944, and
defines it as "esp. _Navy_, a fool." Dilbert sounds a lot like Murphy.
   See this book:

DILBERT:
JUST AN ACCIDENT LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO HAPPEN!
by Lt. Robert C. Osborn, USNR
Coward-McCann, Inc., New York 1943
(the following is on the copyright page--ed.)
  These drawings as well as some six hundred others in this series have been
prepared by the Training Division of the Bureau of Aeronautics, Navy
Department, for the purpose of driving home lessons of difficulties
encountered not only by student pilots but even by qualified aviators. Since
all pilots throughout the years have stumbled upon the same difficulties, it
is reasonable to believe that there is a little bit of Dilbert in all flyers,
whether they be Army, Navy or civilian.
  The drawings herein are the work of Lieutenant Robert C. Osborn, USNR.