VA-46’s insignia was approved by CNO on 25November 1960. The circular insignia had a blue fieldoutlined by two concentric black lines; theMcDougal clan tartan,drawn from the heritageof the squadron’s firstcommanding officer,had dark blue and whitelines on a red background, interspacedwith green squares; thecrest was white, outlined in black with theLatin words Vincere VelMori, meaning to conquer or to die; a white stylized aircraft outlined inblack; and the banner was white with the designationVA 46 in black.Nickname: Clansmen, 1960–1991.
The squadron was homeported out of NAS Cecil Field Florida. During this repaint time of 1960 the squadron was embarked aboard USS Franklin D. Roosevelt, CVA-42 in the Mediterranean as part of Carrier Air Group One (CVG-1). VA-46 was nickname the "Clansmen", squadron's Scottish identity, was chosen by its first commander, Clifford A. McDougal and incorporated the McDougal clan tartan in its insignia.