72nd Air Base Wing

72nd Air Base Wing
B-52G Stratofortress with AGM-28 Hound Dog
Active	1941–1943; 1947–1949; 1952–1971; 1994–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Air Base Support
Part of	Air Force Materiel Command
Garrison/HQ	Tinker Air Force Base
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Commanders
Current commander	Colonel Abigail L. W. Ruscetta
Command Sergeant Major	Chief Master Sergeant Christopher M. Gradel
Insignia
72nd Air Base Wing emblem (approved 13 October 1995)[1]
72nd Strategic Reconnaissance Wing emblem (approved 29 June 1954)[1]

The 72nd Air Base Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Force Sustainment Center at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It has been the host unit at Tinker since activating there on 1 October 1994.

The first predecessor of the wing was organized in 1941 as the 72nd Observation Group during the Louisiana Maneuvers. After the Attack on Pearl Harbor, the group moved to the Panama Canal Zone, where it performed aerial reconnaissance and antisubmarine missions until disbanding in 1943. The group was reconstituted and served in the reserve from 1947 until 1949, when it was inactivated as the military budget was reduced.

The wing's second predecessor was organized in June 1952 as the 72nd Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, operating Convair RB-36 Peacemaker aircraft from Ramey Air Force Base, Puerto Rico. The wing converted to the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress in 1959 on acted in the strategic deterrent role with bombers and tankers until inactivating in June 1971.