Originally, the VIP aircraft and pilot went by the Blackjack Pilot’s call sign.  The VIP platoon was set up in the middle of 68 with 4 aircraft. One for the Div. CO, one for the Assist Div CO,  one for the ADC Bravo and a back up aircraft. The 4th Div CO’s call sign was Dragon 6, with 7 and 8 for his assistant Div COs.  John Mahle, Ron Botz, Regis Davis, and I figured if they were Dragons, we must be Lizards, and that's how the Lizard call sign came about.  The Spade insignia was on both sides of each of the aircraft and a 6,7,or 8 on each of the three general’s aircraft. 

One of the rotor blades on top of Lizard 7 was painted white.

Here is the story of the unit party with steaks and beer.  After Squatty (Ron Botz) and I dropped off a General at Pleiku AFB we were headed back to Enari,  when I spotted some Vietnamese children climbing over this unusual mound covered with branches.  I swooped down and circled it,  blew off a few branches, and there was a Hook sling load of beer and soft drinks.  I called the Aviation HQ and had our Intel Officer meet us at the Hot Spot.  I told him what we had found and we headed back out to our spoils.  The children were back, but they again ran off when we sat down by the loot.  The Intel Officer figured, like we did, that it was some black market deal that the hook had to unload for a while.  We wound up making quite a few trips out there ferrying our spoils.  We off-loaded on to a truck and stored them in a connex.  I made a couple of extra runs on my own and we had cases of beer and soft drinks stacked up in our hooch.  I then went over to the General’s mess and he help us trade for a couple cases of steaks and we had an Aviation Unit party.

Bill Roberts,  Lizard 7

Here is a list of those who were Lizards