At least as early as 1937,[1] Palembang was served by a civil airport at Talang Betutu, operating as a Customs Aerodrome equipped with wireless and direction finding equipment, and basic ground facilities.[2] For Allies the airport was known as Palembang P1 (or just P1). The airport was re-built by the Japanese army during the Japanese occupation in 1942–1943. On July 15, 1963, it was a joint airfield for civilian and military purposes.