[8] In March or April 1941, Jones joined Dudley Clarke's 'A' Force, the department overseeing strategic deception in the Mediterranean, Middle East and African theatres.

Jones was put in charge of visual deception operations, used to confuse the enemy as to the location and strength of Allied forces.

During 1941 he oversaw the creation and deployment of three regiments of dummy vehicles, the designs growing steadily more elaborate under the influence of his 'A' Force colleagues and the members of the camouflage section.

The American Colonel William H. Baumer, who met Jones in March 1943, described him as "one of those who spends his every word trying to impress with his acquaintances and lists of names".

After seeing Collect started, Clarke left for Lisbon, leaving Jones to manage the operation alongside intelligence commanders Brigadier Shearer and lieutenant colonel Raymund Maunsell.

However, for the Battle of Alam el Halfa, at the end of August 1942, the decoys became 4th Armoured Brigade (a recently disbanded formation) and, mixed with real tanks, were given the task of harrying Rommel's flanks.