Born in 1897 to a wealthy New York family, Kimberly Hildebrandt grew up accustom to luxury and easy living. On her 16th birthday, she travelled to Vienna to visit her great aunt and learn the secrets to the Vienna lingerie industry. While still too young to participate in the decision making end of the business, Kimberly soon made a name for herself as a lingerie fashion expert. Ms. Hildebrandt also began to develop a penchant for using the new binocular viewing glasses. Ms. Hildebrandt and her friends soon discovered the power of these new looking glasses; being able to spy on each other, discovering who was sleeping with who's lover, etc.

When war broke out in 1914, Ms. Hildebrandt avoided deportation by using her families wealth, as well as her ability to figure out which government minister was sleeping with which call girl. In the end several government officials believed it was best to allow Ms. Hildebrandt to serve in the Austrian Signal Corps as an auxiliary observer. If she were to become an unfortunate casualty from a Russian sniper, then so much the better.

During the Battle for the Vistula River in 1914, a sudden Russian charge brought chaos to the Austrian lines. Dressed only in a revealing night shirt and some very short bloomers, Ms. Hildebrandt ran from her tent, scaled a nearby wall and began scanning the forward positions with her binoculars. Sighting a Russian patrol readying iteself for a charge, Mr. Hildebrandt started yelling "Look! Look! Look!", which caused nearly all of the Austrian personnel to stop what they were doing and start gawking at her. Amazingly enough, the attacking Russian infantry did the same, creating a virtual cease fire, and halting the planned assault.

The effect of the Austrian 'Lingerie defense' was to stifle any further action along the Vistula River by either side. Opposing commanders later agreed that Ms. Hildebrandt should return to her aunt in Vienna, allowing them to continue conducting a 'respectable war' without distraction.

Following the war, Ms. Hildebrandt ventured to Germany, looking for something new to do. With her trusty (if somewhat infamous) binoculars in hand, she paid for an airship tour across the Rhein. During the tour Ms. Hildebrandt mentioned to several zeppelin staff that she could tell who was engaged in what activity, using her binoculars. Impressed with her keen observations, the airship captain recommended that she contact the Zeppelin Company and apply for a position aboard Der Fliegende Igel.

Awards:

Observer badge - 1914

Zeppelin badge - 1919

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