Nile
78 posts
Aug 19, 2013
9:45 AM
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What was the purpose for Gentile AFB. I seem to remember it small in size; about the size of Forest Park Plaza and all its outlying property. Acquisition/purchasing? I don't think there was a runway.
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greytdaddy
13 posts
Aug 19, 2013
1:54 PM
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Gentile Air Force Station was also known as DESC (Defense Electronics Supply Center). Its main mission was procuring and storing all sorts of electronic items for the Department of Defense. They stocked everything from resistors to electronic parts for aircraft and tanks.
I worked there for about 24 years before being transferred to Wright Patterson AFB.
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luv my dayton
359 posts
Aug 19, 2013
2:46 PM
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That area is now kettering courts system. Next to that is I believe a company called GE Capital. Non of the land and property has gone to waste.
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Billd1952
94 posts
Aug 19, 2013
7:26 PM
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My dad worked at Gentile in the 50s. He made radio crystals for aircraft radios.
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tlturbo
535 posts
Aug 20, 2013
4:57 AM
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When I was on the Twin Base Jr Rifle Team (at Wright Patt) back around 64-65?? I remember they had a nice rifle range that we had matches at occasionally. Remember because I won them HA HA
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Marck1957
175 posts
Aug 20, 2013
5:58 AM
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As a child (early and mid 60s) I was fascinated with the radar dish at the checkpoint in front of DESC. It seemed to rotate so quickly. Cold war days...
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FreedomWriter
22 posts
Aug 20, 2013
3:56 PM
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That base actually goes back to the 1920`s.. During WWII it was a POW camp for Italian Prisoners. My grandparents lived on the back side of the base, and my grandma used to back cakes and cookies for the guys held their. They only had a knee high fence back then to keep them in, because they didnt want to leave since they had it so well here. And yes they did have runways as well. Right before Desc closed down there used to be a A-10 Warthog which was out front by the main gate. They flew that out of there, over to Wright Patt.
Last Edited by FreedomWriter on Aug 20, 2013 3:57 PM
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carlatm75
115 posts
Aug 21, 2013
11:11 AM
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Hey KennyE11, I didn't know you worked at DESC? I started my government career in 1982 at DCASMA Dayton. Then I transferred to DESC in 1989 and I stayed there until we closed the doors on December 31, 1997. I was part of the closeout team. When I was at DESC I worked in the computer room and later in the PC support office. Then I got a job at DFAS Dayton when they moved into the old Bldg. 45 at the former DESC and I stayed there until they were closed also in 2005. They also had the pool, Officers and NCO clubs, the dispensary, our own police and fire departments, a thrift shop and the fabulous park. I have a hardback book that they published right before we closed that has the history of Gentile Station and DESC with lots of pictures. It tells about the POW camp with pictures in it.
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Mr1drfl
6 posts
Aug 21, 2013
11:21 AM
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Hey carlatm75
I worked in Internal Review from about 1986-96. Then transferred to WPAFB.
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carlatm75
116 posts
Aug 21, 2013
11:48 AM
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Mr1drfl, what a small world. I worked in the office where we went out and worked on people's computers and printers doing maintenance and repair and loading software.
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KennyE11
131 posts
Aug 21, 2013
11:12 PM
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Carla - I thought we had discussed the DESC connection on a previous thread. I began my career there in Dec. 1983, but was only there until Feb. 1986 when I moved to Florida.
What is the title of the book? As a historian, I would be very interested in trying to locate a copy of the book, if I could find it anywhere.
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