Like in that movie Bat21 with Gene Hackman as the downed pilot and Danny Glover as the spotter-plane pilot keeping tabs on him. Based on the true story of the guy in Vietnam that used the “golf course code” to get to safe territory.
I recall that spotter plane had a few rockets to launch at the bad guys - but also risked getting shot up a bunch. I can see the A-10 in that role.
Great movie.