Editing Armed Forces of Liberia (section)

===Attempted coup (1985)===
In the aftermath of the rigged elections of 1985, which Doe manipulated to solidify his power, Quiwonkpa returned from his U.S. exile to enter Liberia from Sierra Leone. On November 12, 1985, he entered Monrovia with a group of dissident soldiers, took over the national [[Liberia Broadcasting System]] radio station and announced that the 'National Patriotic Forces of Liberia' had seized power.{{sfn|Ellis|2001|p=59–60}} Adekeye says that Quiwonkpa erred in 'fail[ing] to establish control over the country's communications system and resisted a frontal attack on the Executive Mansion.'{{sfn|Adebajo|2002|p=29}}

These mistakes allowed Doe the time to rally the Krahn-dominated Executive Mansion Guard and 1st Infantry Battalion from Camp [[Schieffelin]] to reestablish control. Quiwonkpa was captured, killed, and mutilated, his body being dismembered and parts eaten. In the aftermath of the attempted coup, purges took place in Monrovia and in [[Nimba County]], Quiwonkpa's home, against those who had rejoiced after the coup announcement. As many as 1,500 people may have been killed. The AFL was purged of Gio soldiers.

Under Samuel Doe the Coast Guard was retitled the Liberian Navy in 1986 through the passage of The Liberian Navy Act of 1986.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200808260769.html|title=Liberia: Ellen Signs Anti-Corruption Act, Commissions Several Officials|date=August 26, 2008|access-date=January 7, 2018|via=AllAfrica|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007011005/http://allafrica.com/stories/200808260769.html|archive-date=October 7, 2012|url-status=live|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The Aviation Unit was founded in 1970 with the delivery of three Cessna U-17C light aircraft. An Aviation Unit aircraft crashed at Spriggs-Payne in 1984.<ref>Liberian Observer, [http://www.liberianobserver.com/node/8299 Eviction Hangs Over 2,000 Wroto Town Dwellers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100914173235/http://www.liberianobserver.com/node/8299 |date=September 14, 2010 }}, September 11, 2010</ref> In 1985 it operated three fixed-wing aircraft from [[Spriggs Payne Airport]] in Monrovia, including [[Cessna 172]]s.<ref>Andrade, John (1982). Militair 1982. London: Aviation Press Limited. {{ISBN|0-907898-01-7}}, p.147</ref> Their duties included reconnaissance and transport of light cargo and VIPs.{{sfn|Nelson|1984|p=272}} The Aviation Unit was expanded in the 1980s with the delivery of more Cessna aircraft: three 172s, a 206, 207 and two single engined turboprop 208s.

The Liberian Air Force was established from the Aviation Unit by an Act of Legislature on August 12, 1987.<ref name="2007_Budget">2006/2007 Budget, Republic of Liberia. Retrieved December 2008 – January 2009. (The link, which now does not work, was at http://www.mofliberia.org/budget0607.xls {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070710063849/http://www.mofliberia.org/budget0607.xls |date=July 10, 2007 }}.)</ref>  Its statutory responsibilities were to: protect and defend the air space of the Republic of Liberia; protect lives and properties; provide air mobility for military and civil personnel; assist in search and rescue operations; undertake emergency operations; conduct reconnaissance patrols; participate in joint military operations and perform other duties as may be designated by the Ministry of Defense.<ref name="2007_Budget"/> The LAF was to be headed by a colonel in his capacity as Assistant Chief of Defense Staff for the Air Force and was mandated to do the following: to train personnel and develop doctrine; advise the Chief of Staff of the AFL on matters relating to the Air Force.<ref name="2007_Budget"/>
In 1989 two refurbished [[DHC-4 Caribou]], a single [[Piper Aztec]] light twin and three [[IAI Arava]] STOL twins were delivered.