Considering how early rockets had an unnerving tendency to uncontrolled, unintentional explosions, the earliest test pilots for rocket-propelled vehicles were in their own category of bravery. From an unnamed ram to William G. Swann, these are the pioneers that eventually led to Chuck Yeager, Alan Shepard, and modern spaceflight.
https://gizmodo.com/alan-shepard-astronaut-pilot-golfer-1554048203
https://gizmodo.com/the-first-american-rocket-pilot-452502213
