Not a line pilot, but a test pilot
And Douglas Aircraft chief test pilot as well.
Ben O. (Benny) Howard.
WWII ace, lost a leg in the process, and had a very sucessful career with Douglas as chief test pilot, DC-6/DC-7.
Just prior to the first flight of the DC-6, he backed the aircraft up using reverse, much to the annoyment of Donald Douglas Sr.
When asked later about this, Howard mentioned...'it'll sell more, airlines and pilots will appreciate the reliability of prop reverse.'
And so they did. The DC-6 sold like hotcakes.