The 72nd Air Base Wing is wing of the United States Air Force. It is 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 Air Force 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.

The 72nd Air Base Wing is the host organization for Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. It provides base installation and support services for the Air Force Sustainment Center, the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Complex and more than 45 associate units, including two operational flying wings of Air Combat Command and Air Force Reserve Command, the United States Navy Strategic Communications Wing One and several Defense agencies. The wing provides support services for nearly 27,000 civilian and military personnel at Tinker. It also provides services to approximately 18,000 dependents and more than 36,000 military retirees and their family members in the surrounding area and supports almost 2,400 contractors.

The wing provides base functions including security, fire protection, medical services, civil engineering, communications and supply, transportation and airfield operations. It also offers a variety of recreational and leisure activities.

Organizations assigned to the Wing include the 72nd Medical Group, 72nd Mission Support Group, 72nd Operations Support Squadron and 72nd Logistics Readiness Squadron.

The wing's first predecessor was organized during the Louisiana Maneuvers at Shreveport Municipal Airport, Louisiana as the 72nd Observation Group on 26 September 1941 as part of the United States Army's buildup prior to the country's entry into World War II. It drew its cadre from its three original squadrons. These were the 108th and 124th Observation Squadrons, two National Guard units that had been mobilized earlier that year, and the 1st Observation Squadron, a regular army unit. However, none of its assigned squadrons were located with group headquarters. The two National Guard squadrons remained at their prewar state stations, while the 1st Squadron was at Marshall Field, Kansas. A few days after activating, the group headquarters moved to Adams Field, Arkansas. The group's primary mission aircraft was the North American O-47, although it also flew the Stinson O-49 Vigilant.

While the group was still organizing, Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. The group joined the 1st Squadron at Marshall Field, and at the end of the month, both departed for Howard Field in the Canal Zone, arriving there along with the 108th Squadron on 18 January 1942. Although the 124th Squadron remained assigned to the group, it remained in the United States until being reassigned in March 1942. Its place was taken by the 4th and 39th Observation Squadrons, which were assigned to the group the same month. However the group acted only as an administrative headquarters for these units, as the 4th was located at Losey Field, Puerto Rico and operated under the Puerto Rican Department for nearly the entire time it was assigned. The 39th was initially stationed in Panama, but moved to Waller Field, Trinidad in August 1942 and was controlled by the Trinidad Sector and Base Command after its move. The group added Piper L-4 Grasshoppers, Douglas B-18 Bolos and Bell P-39 Airacobras to its inventory in the Caribbean.