"Staying ahead of the aircraft"
Cogsim's point about staying ahead of the aircraft is important for all "drivers airframe" - in the long-gone days when I was training to become one, I was firmly told that you din't just "stay" ahead, but had to be ahead of it - and being ahead started right at the start of briefing for the sortie, or even earlier if, say, there was an early morning weather briefing and your detail was for later in the day.
That kind of "being aheadedness" also applies to sailors, and even drivers ... (in an ideal world, of course).
This is just to amplify Cogsim's point and NOT to imply any reference to AF procedures, or what the crew did in this instance.