He was promoted to sub-lieutenant on 5 November 1940, with seniority from 19 June. After a period of time posted to the Admiralty at the end of 1941, he was promoted to lieutenant on 1 February 1942. After completing an Air Signaller's course, he was posted to 700 Naval Air Squadron in July 1942 to serve aboard the battleship , flying in Supermarine Walrus reconnaissance aircraft, and taking part in Russian convoys in May, in the landings in North Africa in November, and during the invasion of Sicily in July 1943. He was posted to the escort carrier in September 1943 to serve as Operations Officer, taking part in hunter-killer operations in the Atlantic and on Arctic convoys, then served as a Liaison Officer on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief, Western Approaches Admiral Sir Max Horton from September 1944. Stovin-Bradford commanded 825 Naval Air Squadron from its reformation at RNAS Rattray in July 1945, and from 28 December 1945 commanded 735 Naval Air Squadron based at RNAS Burscough.