VC-65 was commissioned in June 10, 1943 at Alameda Naval Air Station, Alameda, California, with Lieutenant Commander Ralph M. Jones in command. Throughout June and July of 1943, squadron personnel began arriving to join VC-65, and by the end of July the full complement was aboard.

The letters VC designate V for aircraft and C for composite, meaning the squad squadron's aircraft consisted of more than one type. The aircraft to be assigned were to be FM's, (Grumman Wildcat fighters), and TBF's, (Grumman Avenger torpedo bombers)