1. Reinhard Seiler was a Nazi German Luftwaffe Major and ace of the Spanish Civil War and World War II, commander of Jagdgeschwader 104 and a winner of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves; for the fighter pilots, it was a quantifiable measure of skill and combat success.
Reinhard Seiler was credited with 100 victories during World War II, over the course of about 500 combat missions.
Reinhard Seiler recorded an additional 9 victories during the Spanish Civil War.
Reinhard Seiler was the son of Justizoberwachtmeister, a police officer at court.
Reinhard Seiler joined the newly created Luftwaffe in 1935 and was promoted to Leutnant on 20 April 1937.
When Reinhard Seiler returned to Germany, he was credited with nine aerial victories and was one of the leading fighter pilots of the Condor Legion.
Reinhard Seiler was promoted to Oberleutnant on 1 April 1939.
Reinhard Seiler scored his first victory of the war on 10 January 1940, shooting down a French reconnaissance Potez southwest of Freiburg.
On 1 December 1940, Reinhard Seiler was promoted to Hauptmann.
On 1 October 1941, Reinhard Seiler was appointed Gruppenkommandeur of III.
Reinhard Seiler replaced Hauptmann Arnold Lignitz who had been posted as missing in action after he had been shot down over Leningrad the day before.
Reinhard Seiler was awarded the German Cross in Gold on 15 October then the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 20 December 1941, having flown 200 missions.
Reinhard Seiler was the most successful pilot in these missions, scoring 16 night-victories between March and June 1942 and he was promoted to Major in June.
Reinhard Seiler replaced Hauptmann Gerhard Koall who temporarily led the Gruppe after Major Hans Philipp was transferred to take command of Jagdgeschwader 1 fighting in Defence of the Reich.
Reinhard Seiler was the 44th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.