Colonial era bomber of the
Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force (ML-KNIL) at Andir airfield (1937) In 1918, the
Dutch East Indies government constructed two airstrips in Cipagalo and Sukamiskin. At the time, the runways were simple compacted earth surfaces. The airfields were officially opened in 1920, when aviation activity consisted of a single aircraft making a brief demonstration flight at an altitude of around 50 meters. However, due to persistent issues with muddy ground conditions caused by insufficient surface reinforcement, the colonial authorities developed a new airstrip in the Cicukang area of Cibeureum village, which later became known as Andir Airfield. The ceremony was attended by
Andries Cornelis Dirk de Graeff, the
Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies. As a result, passengers continued their journey to Surabaya by train from Semarang.
World War II and the Indonesian National Revolution C-47 Dakota landing at Andir Airfield, 1946 When the
Pacific War, part of
World War II, broke out in 1941, Andir Airfield served as the home base of the
Ie Vliegtuiggroep (1st Air Group, VIG-I) of the ML-KNIL. The unit comprised two
afdelingen (divisions), each operating nine
Martin B-10 bombers along with two reserve aircraft. At the time, Andir Airfield also hosted one of the ML-KNIL’s technical training schools. The Japanese recognized the airfield’s strategic importance and therefore subjected it to repeated air raids during the
invasion. When the invasion began, Andir Airfield was defended by units of the
Royal Netherlands East Indies Army (KNIL) and the
British Army, which operated the airfield’s anti-aircraft defenses. Aircraft of the ML-KNIL based at Andir Airfield, including Martin B-10s and
Brewster F2A Buffalos, were used to attack Japanese positions and slow their advance. Nevertheless, the Japanese landed at Eretan Wetan,
Indramayu, on 28 February 1942 and captured
Kalijati Airfield in
Subang on 2 March. This left Andir Airfield as the last airfield in western Java still under
Allied control. The remaining aircraft at Kalijati were evacuated to Andir Airfield. Following the fall of Kalijati, the Japanese launched a major air raid on Andir, which destroyed several aircraft at the airfield, including some that had been evacuated from Kalijati. After its capture, the airfield was progressively improved and expanded by the Japanese throughout the
occupation to support their military operations, including the addition of well-equipped facilities such as hangars, workshops, telephone and wireless telegraph systems, and fuel storage. The runway was also repaired and upgraded using captured
Allied prisoners of war, who were subjected to harsh treatment by their Japanese captors. Following
Japan’s surrender, the airfield was overrun by an Indonesian mob on 8 October 1945, leading to the capitulation of the Japanese forces there with little to no resistance. A few days earlier, discussions had taken place between Basyir Surya, the head of Andir Airfield Employees’ Association (Perpela), and the Japanese commander at Andir Airfield, in which the Japanese agreed to hand over their weapons to Indonesian youths. Following the capture of the airfield, the Indonesian
red-and-white flag was then raised on top of the airfield control tower. Local residents of Bandung continued to oppose the British and Allied presence throughout the
Indonesian National Revolution. In March 1946, during the
Bandung Sea of Fire, they managed to storm into the airfield and set fire to two British aircraft. Fighting also erupted between Allied forces and Indonesian militias around the airfield perimeter.
Independence era T-6 Harvards at Andir Airfield, 1952 Following the
Dutch–Indonesian Round Table Conference, the Netherlands recognized Indonesia’s sovereignty and withdrew from the region. Andir Airfield was transferred from the ML-KNIL to the
Indonesian Air Force on 2 March 1950, marked by a formal ceremony. On 17 August 1952, the airfield was renamed to its present name in honor of Husein Sastranegara, an Indonesian Air Force officer who died during a test flight over Yogyakarta. It was not until 1974 that the airport began serving regular commercial flights. That year marked the formal commencement of commercial air traffic and transport services, following the establishment of a representative office of the
Directorate General of Civil Aviation at the airport. At the time, Merpati also operated nine daily flights between Bandung and
Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport in Jakarta. Meanwhile,
Sempati Air served the Bandung–Jakarta route three times daily via
Soekarno–Hatta International Airport instead of Halim. Husein Sastranegara Airport had long served commercial domestic and international flights to and from Bandung. ==Facilities and development==