Gerstner Field is a former World War I military airfield, located 11.1 miles (17.9 km) southeast of Lake Charles, Louisiana.

The airfield was one of thirty-two Air Service training camps established in 1917 after the United States entry into World War I.

Gerstner Field flight operations suffered tremendously from blowing sand that hampered flying and destroyed airplane engines.

A chronic lack of spare engines and parts prevented many repairs, thus leaving men idle and, at one time, as many as two-thirds of the camp's airplanes out of commission.

The field was somewhat lumpy, so good landing spots were hard to find, and a severe mosquito problem made life at the base frequently unbearable.

[4] With the sudden end of World War I in November 1918, the future operational status of Gerstner Field was unknown.

Many local officials speculated that the U.S. government would keep the field open because of the outstanding combat record established by Gerstner-trained pilots in Europe.

[6] In December 1919 Gerstner Field was deactivated as an active duty airfield, and a small caretaker unit was assigned to the facility for administrative reasons.

The station apparently straddled both the east and west sides of LA 27, with Old Camp Road being the northern boundary of the base.