[5] The air base was located in Soerabaja and used by the Netherlands Naval Aviation Service.

[5][b] While the air base had been put into service on 30 June 1925 it was still being equipped during the remainder of the year.

[6] To this end the base was equipped with several workstations, factories and hangars that were continuously expanded and modernized over the years.

[12] The air base was also used for commercial flight by the Royal Dutch East Indies Airways (KNILM).

The raid destroyed six Dutch navy aircraft and various facilities of the air base.

A new naval air base was built to the southeast of Surabaya in Sidoarjo Regency.