Remember that Catch-22 is an American film. The word 'barmy' has a long history in English and the OED defines it as 'British informal' ie it would be used by the RFC in WWI. It almost means 'mad' in the British sense of lunatic - not the US sense of 'angry'.
The word goes back to "Old English beorma, of West Germanic origin. Even Frisian is West Germanic!
If you look it up you will find that Frisian is closer to English than it is to German or Dutch. Lots of interesting stuff in Wiki about West Germanic languages. Here is an old poem in both English and Frisian. See how similar they look.
Lyk az Gods sinne weiet uus wrâld oerschijnt; Like as God's sun sweetly our world o'ershines;
Her warmtme in ljeacht in groed in libben schinkt; Her warmth and light and growth and life sends;
Lijk az de mijlde rein elke eker fijnt: Like as the mild rain each acre finds:
So dogt eak dat, wat ijn uus, minksen, tinkt. So does eke that, what in us, men, thinks.
Dij sprankel fen Gods fjoer, ijn uus lein, jouwt That sparkle of God's fire, in us laid, gives
Oeral eak ljeacht in FREUGDE oon Adams team. O'erall eke light and JOY on Adam's team.
Wer dij wenn't, hulken, of paleisen, bouwt Where they dwelt, hulk, or palaces build,
In fen wat folk hij iz, ho hij him neam And of what folk he is, how he him names.
The one word that seems really different is the words for 'Joy'. Most of the other words are very similar.
Pins arrived Friday and By Jove! They're jolly spiffing.
As intended I gave one to the better half, explaining that I was following the tradition of WW1 RFC pilots in giving badges to wives and sweethearts (may they never meet!).
She was indeed moved, and suggested that BWOC might stand for Barmy Wives of OFFers Club, though she was at a loss to explain why it's repeated three times to which I of course responded that any BOC member's wife or sweetheart would naturally be once, twice and three times a lady. Corny, but it worked!
Thanks again to Lou for the great idea, the pins truly are splendid.
Oh that I was back in the dear old PBI. With no more Triplanes on me tail, nor tracer tracing by. And no more flames and clickerty-clack and no more blooming sky, And only a couple of feet to fall whenever I want to die.
No. 56 Squadron Song
#4285515 - 08/07/1610:54 AMRe: All Officers and Members of the BOC - club pins have been ordered!
[Re: RAF_Louvert]
Joined: May 2012 Posts: 4,879RAF_Louvert
BOC President; Pilot Extraordinaire; Humble Man
RAF_Louvert
BOC President; Pilot Extraordinaire; Humble Man
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 4,879
L'Etoile du Nord
.
You are most welcome Dej, glad to know the pins arrived safe and sound, and quick. And speaking of quick, well done on the "once, twice, three times a lady". But it also had to be effective at least in part by how it was delivered. If I'd said that to my better half it would have gotten me the "eye roll", likely accompanied by the "head shake", and possibly even the "walk away".
.
Three RFC Brass Hats were strolling down a street in London. Two walked into a bar, the third one ducked. _________________________________________________________________________
Former Cold War Warrior, USAF Security Service 1974-1978, E-4, Morse Systems Intercept, England, Europe, and points above. "pippy-pahpah-pippy pah-pip-pah"
#4285843 - 08/08/1607:59 PMRe: All Officers and Members of the BOC - club pins have been ordered!
[Re: RAF_Louvert]
Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 148Dezh
Vice President Barmy OFFers Club
Oh, I had all of those Lou, but you can tell when they're smiling inside!
Oh that I was back in the dear old PBI. With no more Triplanes on me tail, nor tracer tracing by. And no more flames and clickerty-clack and no more blooming sky, And only a couple of feet to fall whenever I want to die.
No. 56 Squadron Song
#4286010 - 08/09/1612:08 PMRe: All Officers and Members of the BOC - club pins have been ordered!
[Re: RAF_Louvert]
The giving of pins to girlfriends and wives carried on through WWII. Sometimes the pins were made out of cartridge cases or other bits of metal. These were normally made by the mechanics and sold to the aircrew for beer money. I once owned a cigarette lighter made out of a .303 cartridge case - unfortunately lost now. My mother had a silver pin of HMS Newcastle given by my brother. Silver pins of Spitfires and such were common.
RAF 1966-73 Cpl Engine Fitter (Retd.) Trenchard brat 206th Entry DBA and systems programmer 1981-2005. Now retired since 2014
#4314548 - 11/23/1602:12 PMRe: All Officers and Members of the BOC - club pins have been ordered!
[Re: RAF_Louvert]
Joined: May 2012 Posts: 4,879RAF_Louvert
BOC President; Pilot Extraordinaire; Humble Man
RAF_Louvert
BOC President; Pilot Extraordinaire; Humble Man
Senior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 4,879
L'Etoile du Nord
.
bump and BWOC BWOC BWOC!
For those who may be looking at sending in their application to join the Barmy OFFers Club we do still have a few club pins available. Cost is $3.45 each plus shipping. They look spiffing on your hat or lapel and also make a fine Christmas gift to one's barmy self. Those interested feel free to send me a PM.
Cheers!
Lou
.
Three RFC Brass Hats were strolling down a street in London. Two walked into a bar, the third one ducked. _________________________________________________________________________
Former Cold War Warrior, USAF Security Service 1974-1978, E-4, Morse Systems Intercept, England, Europe, and points above. "pippy-pahpah-pippy pah-pip-pah"
#4314582 - 11/23/1603:53 PMRe: All Officers and Members of the BOC - club pins have been ordered!
[Re: RAF_Louvert]
As the proud owner of a couple of said pins, I can wholeheartedly recommend them to any barmy WOFFer! They're of very good quality and look real nice on just about anything you decide to pin them.
"Upon my word I've had as much excitement on a car as in the air, especially since the R.F.C. have had women drivers."
James McCudden, Five Years in the Royal Flying Corps