For several actions with the 2-VLG-V squadron under command of Captain Jacob Pieter van Helsdingen he received the Vliegerkruis on 24 February 1942.

After basic training he joined the Navy, but as he did not feel like being away at sea for months he was granted a transfer to the air force.

[citation needed] Dutch support for the British army in Singapore had already been agreed before World War II broke out in the Pacific.

ML-KNIL stationed 27 Glenn Martin 139 bombers and 12 Brewster Buffalo fighters at Kallang Airfield for the defense of British Singapore.

On 18 January 1942 Stoové's squadron headed back to Java for the defense of the islands of the Dutch East Indies.

A total of nine Glenn Martin 139 bombers were escorted by 20 Brewster Buffaloes from 1-VLG-V and 2-VLG-V, each carrying two 110 lb (50 kg) bombs.

On 1 March 1942, when Captain van Helsdingen decided to attack Japanese infantry landing on the beach of Eretan Wetan (now part of Indramayu Regency), he chose Stoové as his wingman.

[2] While under heavy enemy fire the pilots dropped their bombs on several Japanese battle ships and shot at the landing craft during three runs.

During this run 1st Lieutenant Benjamins and Sargeant Stoové were instructed to shoot at Japanese infantry landing on the beach.

After the war had ended, Stoové was liberated from the Japanese POW camp on Flores, and served out his army contract until January 1947.