Formed in March 1943, it was initially designated the Palembang Air Defense Headquarters.
Each of the air defense regiments was equipped with 20 Type 88 75 mm AA guns.
The 21st and 22nd Fighter Regiments of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force were responsible for intercepting Allied aircraft.
[3] The Palembang Defense Unit failed to damage any of the American B-29 Superfortress bombers which attacked the city during the Operation Boomerang raid on the night of 10/11 August 1944.
[4] It also saw combat during the British Operation Meridian carrier air attacks on Palembang during January 1945.