At risk of subverting the conversation, I'd venture that a "proper" Engineer is one who has both good academic qualifications and good practical training and experience. How much of which is an interesting point for argument.
I make no secret of having a couple of degrees, and being very proud of the fact. But, those alone would qualify me to do nothing. Similarly, it doesn't really matter how much practical experience you've got - you need to have spent a fair bit of time learning the theory that supports it.
But, what is perhaps at the root of both Tempford's grouch and mine, is that there are influentual people who have taken a particular view of what constitutes "real" engineering, and "real" aviation. Clearly, neither of us are regarded as having done enough of that - whatever it is. In my case probably because I've chosen to spend my career around "little aeroplanes", in his I suspect because he's regarded as being too practical and not theoretical enough.
G
N.B. I've just checked - RJ Mitchell had no degree, that shoots down at-least one argument!