 Despite the Japanese having an almost complete air superiority over Java, he nevertheless chose to take off from Andir airfield.He ordered another pilot to stand down and hand over his Buffalo aircraft to him because he was married, despite the fact that Van Helsdingen was himself married.Three other pilots, 1st Lieutenant August Deibel, Gerard Bruggink (flying B-3107) and Officer Cadet Jan Scheffer, volunteered to join him using the last three working Buffalo aircraft on the airfield.