Seeschlacht bei Punta Stilo
Stovin-Bradford first served in 824 Naval Air Squadron flying in Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers aboard the carrier from October 1939, and seeing action in the Mediterranean; at the Battle of Calabria in July 1940, and in the sinking of the and three other vessels in the Gulf of Bomba on 23 August, for which he was subsequently awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.