Talk:Aircraftman

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[edit] Use as generic term

Note that the Oxford English Dictionary only lists Aircraftman as an RAF rank, not as a generic term. Please provide reliable evidence that it is used as a generic term or I will revert it again. -- Necrothesp 18:16, 1 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Erk

The word "erk" is likely a phonetic spelling of an east-Londoner's pronunciation of the abbreviation, "airc".

This seems unlikely as the OED gives an earlier usage for a Naval rating, it just has the origin as obscure. (OED 1925 FRASER & GIBBONS Soldier & Sailor Words 89 Erk, a rating. (Navy). Lower deck colloquialism for any ‘rank’ not that of an officer.) --jmb 08:26, 14 May 2007 (UTC)