The operation was tremendously rushed. Montgomery first proposed it to Eisenhower on September 10, 1944, and the operation kicked off on September 17 - seven days to plan and prepare the biggest airborne operation of the war. And it was Montgomery's plan. Obviously he could not control every detail and could not personally lead the many different units and elements involved, but it was his idea and he proposed it vigorously to Eisenhower. The concept was so radical that Omar Bradley said he would have been less surprised if the famous teetotaler Montgomery had shown up at Eisenhower's headquarters roaring drunk, rather than proposing such a plan.