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The final year of the war in Guinea was the most challenging for Portuguese aviation, which lost six aircraft to Strela missiles. The impact of this new weapon on air activity was significant, but the Portuguese Air Force reacted swiftly and continued to fly combat operations over Guinea. Squadron 121’s G.91s were critical in reacting to rebel initiatives, serving as the primary attack and tactical support platform for Portuguese forces in the closing months of the conflict. To reduce vulnerability to the heatseeking missile, G.91s in Guinea received an olive-green paint scheme expected to reduce the aircraft’s infrared signature. (Artwork by Tom Cooper)