WEBF, mate they were genuine booties.
When 3 BAS became 847 and the bootnecks were awarded RN wings, one of the spin offs was that booties were looked at to enter the fixed wing world. (long story cut very short)
Once you had persuaded them that although press-ups were admirable they didn't win BVR engagements - and that BFM was more important than BFT - they were worth having along!
In fact they were worth their weight in gold when the bagmen decided that mess rugby would be a great idea mid-JMC. (Have a feeling that Black and Yellar ended up with sore ribs after that one!)