Attack Squadron 65 | |
---|---|
Active | 1945 – 31 March 1993 |
Country | United States of America |
Branch | United States Navy |
Type | All Weather Attack |
Base | NAS Oceana |
Nickname(s) | Tigers |
Colors | Orange and Black |
Mascot(s) | Tiger and JOBU |
Engagements |
Attack Squadron 65 (VA-65), nicknamed The World Famous Fighting Tigers, was an attack squadron of the United States Navy. The squadron was established as Torpedo Squadron VT-74 in 1945, redesignated as VA-2B in 1946, as VA-25 on 1 September 1948, and finally redesignated VA-65 on 1 July 1959. It was disestablished in 1993. 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. It was the second squadron to be designated VA-65, the first VA-65 was redesignated from VA-6B on 27 July 1948 and would be redesignated as VA-25 on 1 July 1959. [1]
The squadron's first insignia was approved by CNO on 9 August 1945. During the time when the squadron's insignia was approved, VT-74 was flying the SB2C which was nicknamed "The Beast". Consequently, the squadron's insignia took on the shape of a beast riding a torpedo. There is no record of the colors used for this insignia.
After VT-74 was redesignated VA-2B, it continued to use the old insignia until 17 April 1947 when CNO approved a new insignia for the squadron. The insignia adopted by VA-2B reflected the squadron's new attack mission. 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 for the insignia were: a yellow background; red scroll with yellow lettering, black banner with a black and white pole; white knight with a yellow collar; a white lightning bolt; and the Fleur-de-lis was red with a black band.
The Knight insignia continued as the official insignia for the squadron following its redesignation to VA-25 on 1 September 1948. A new insignia for VA-25 was approved by CNO on 4 April 1950. The new insignia was a front view of a tiger on the prowl. Colors were: yellow background; brown tiger with green eyes, and white teeth, whiskers and claws; and a red tongue and mouth. When VA-25 was redesignated VA-65 in 1959 the tiger insignia was retained and remained VA-65's insignia until its disestablishment. Nickname: Tigers 1950–1993. [1]
Departure | Return | Air Wing | Carrier | Aircraft | Area of Operation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
29 October 1947 | 11 March 1948 | CVBG-1 | CVB 41 | AD-1 | Med |
3 May 1949 | 25 September 1949 | CVG-2 | CVB 43 | AD-1 | Med |
10 January 1951 | 18 May 1951 | CVG-6 | CVB 42 | AD-4 | Med |
9 January 1952 | 5 May 1952 | CVG-6 | CVB 41 | AD-4 | Med |
26 August 1952 | 8 October 1952 | CVG-6 | CVB 41 | AD-4 | NorLant |
1 December 1952 | 19 May 1953 | CVG-6 | CVA 41 | AD-4 | Med |
4 January 1954 | 4 August 1954 | CVG-6 | CVA 41 | AD-6 | Med |
9 October 1955 | 30 April 1956 | CVG-6 | CVA 39 | AD-6 | Med |
3 September 1957 | 21 October 1957 | CVG-6 | CVA 11 | AD-6 | NorLant |
12 February 1959 | 30 August 1959 | CVG-6 | CVA 11 | AD-6 | Med |
4 August 1960 | 17 February 1961 | CVG-6 | CVA 11 | AD-6 | Med |
3 August 1961 | 1 March 1962 | CVG-6 | CVA 11 | AD-6 | Med |
3 August 1962 | 11 October 1962 | CVG-6 | CVAN 65 | A-1H | Med |
19 October 1962 | 6 December 1962 | CVG-6 | CVAN 65 | A-1H | Carib |
6 February 1963 | 4 September 1963 | CVG-6 | CVAN 65 | A-1H | Med |
8 February 1964 | 3 October 1964 | CVW-6 | CVAN 65 | A-1H | Med/World Cruise |
12 May 1966 | 3 December 1966 | CVW-15 | CVA 64 | A-6A | WestPac/Vietnam |
6 June 1967 | 15 September 1967 | CVW-17 | CVA 59 | A-6A | WestPac/Vietnam |
30 December 1968 | 4 September 1969 | CVW-11 | CVA 63 | A-6A/B | WestPac/Vietnam |
23 June 1970 | 31 January 1971 | CVW-7 | CVA 62 | A-6A | Med |
16 September 1971 | 16 March 1972 | CVW-7 | CVA 62 | A-6A/KA-6D | NorLant/Med |
21 June 1973 | 19 January 1974 | CVW-7 | CV 62 | A-6E/KA-6D | Med |
19 July 1974 | 21 January 1975 | CVW-7 | CV 62 | A-6E/KA-6D | Med |
15 October 1975 | 5 May 1976 | CVW-7 | CV 62 | A-6E/KA-6D | NorLant/Med |
31 March 1977 | 21 October 1977 | CVW-7 | CV 62 | A-6E/KA-6D | Med |
16 January 1979 | 13 July 1979 | CVW-7 | CVN 69 | A-6E/KA-6D | Med |
15 April 1980 | 22 December 1980 | CVW-7 | CVN 69 | A-6E/KA-6D | IO |
20 August 1981 | 7 October 1981 | CVW-7 | CVN 69 | A-6E/KA-6D | NorLant |
5 January 1982 | 13 July 1982 | CVW-7 | CVN 69 | A-6E/KA-6D | Med |
27 April 1983 | 2 December 1983 | CVW-7 | CVN 69 | A-6E/KA-6D | Med |
8 May 1984 | 20 June 1984 | CVW-7 | CVN 69 | A-6E/KA-6D | Carib/NorLant |
10 October 1984 | 8 May 1985 | CVW-7 | CVN 69 | A-6E/KA-6D | Med |
8 July 1985 | 22 August 1985 | CVW-7 | CVN 69 | A-6E/KA-6D | Carib |
29 September 1987 | 28 March 1988 | CVW-13 | CV 43 | A-6E | Med |
31 May 1989 | 30 September 1989 | CVW-13 | CV 43 | A-6E | Med |
28 December 1990 | 28 June 1991 | CVW-8 | CVN 71 | A-6E | Med/Red Sea/Persian Gulf |
Air Wing Tail Code | Assignment Date |
---|---|
CVG-74 | 1 May 1945 |
CVBG-1* M | 15 November 1946 |
CVG-2† M | 1 September 1948 |
CVG-6 C | August 1950 |
CVG-6 AF‡CVG-6/CVW-6§ AE§ RCVW-4 AD | 1 January 1965 |
COMFAIRNORFOLK | 5 June 1965 |
CVW-15 NL | 20 February 1966 |
COMFAIRNORFOLK | 3 December 1966 |
CVW-17 AA | 22 December 1966 |
COMFAIRNORFOLK | 15 September 1967 |
CVW-11 NH | 1968 |
COMFAIRNORFOLK | September 1969 |
CVW-7 AG | February 1970 |
CVW-13 AK | 1 September 1986 |
CVW-8 AJ | 30 October 1989 |
Unit Award | |
---|---|
Inclusive Dates Covering Unit Award | |
Navy Battle E Ribbon | |
1948 | |
1 July 1951 | 30 June 1952 |
1 July 1959 | 30 June 1960 |
1967 | |
1 October 1977 | 30 September 1978 |
1 October 1979 | 30 September 1980 |
1 January 1984 | 31 December 1984 |
1 January 1991 | 31 December 1991 |
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | |
24 October 1962 | 21 November 1962 |
15 May 1969 | |
25 May 1969 | 27 May 1969 |
5 June 1969 | |
7 June 1969 | 15 June 1969 |
25 June 1969 | |
6 June 1983 | 14 June 1983 |
27 July 1983 | 30 August 1983 |
1 September 1983 | 19 October 1983 |
27 October 1983 | 20 November 1983 |
Meritorious Unit Commendation | |
9 September 1970 | 5 October 1970 |
30 March 1988 | 30 September 1989 |
Navy Expeditionary Medal | |
29 April 1980 | 16 July 1980 |
22 July 1980 | 8 December 1980 |
25 May 1983 | 27 May 1983 |
Navy Unit Commendation | |
12 May 1966 | 3 December 1966 |
15 January 1969 | 27 August 1969 |
29 April 1980 | 10 December 1980 |
21 July 1983 | 20 November 1983 |
27 October 1984 | 24 April 1985 |
17 January 1991 | 7 February 1991 |
Vietnam Service Medal | |
14 June 1966 | 13 July 1966 |
27 July 1966 | 31 August 1966 |
8 September 1966 | 1 October 1966 |
19 October 1966 | 9 November 1966 |
23 July 1967 | 30 July 1967 |
12 August 1967 | |
27 January 1969 | 1 March 1969 |
12 March 1969 | 5 April 1969 |
17 April 1969 | 10 May 1969 |
28 June 1969 | 15 July 1969 |
27 July 1969 | 16 August 1969 |
Kuwait Liberation Medal | |
7 January 1991 | 28 February 1991 |
Southwest Asia Service Medal (includes Desert Storm) | |
14 January 1991 | 20 April 1991 |
Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation | |
5 April 1991 | 16 July 1991 |
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This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons .