Known as "The World Famous Fighting Tigers", VA-65 was one of the last medium attack squadrons to fly the A-6 Intruder and the A-1 Skyraider.

During the time when the squadron's insignia was approved, VT-74 was flying the SB2C which was nicknamed "The Beast".

The horsehead chess piece was designed to relate the squadron's power to that of a medieval knight and the fleur-de-lis represented integrity.

Colors were: yellow background; brown tiger with green eyes, and white teeth, whiskers and claws; and a red tongue and mouth.

[1] This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons.