At about 09:00 on 3 June , Ensign Jack Reid , piloting a PBY from US Navy patrol squadron VP-44 , spotted the Japanese Occupation Force some to the west-southwest of Midway .
At about 09:00 on 3 June , a PBY from US Navy patrol squadron VP-44 , spotted the Japanese Occupation Force 500 nmi to the west-southwest of Midway .