From Journal of Research of the National Bureau of Standards July 1946:
The general principles governing the design of radio proximity fuzes are pr esented. The paper deals primarily with fuzes for smooth-bore projectiles, * such as bombs, rockets and mortars. Illustrations and descriptions of the various fuzes in this ca tegory which were developed during World War II are given. Within security regulations, there is a reasonably detailed discussion of the performance and construction of fuze components, such as the oscillator, the amplifier, the antennas, the power supply and t he safety and arming mechanisms. There is also a brief description of production practice s and problems and methods of inspection and quality control.
The radio fuze development and production programs were successful because of the high order of cooperation between military and civilian Government agencies and the American manufacturers. The free exchange of in formation, even between normally competing manufacturers, contributed immeasurably to good fuze design and production. Principal manufacturers of bomb, rocket, and mortar fuzes were Emerson Radio & Phonograph Corporation, Friez Division of Bendix Corporation, General Electric Co., Globe-Union, Inc., Philco Corporation, Western Electric Co., Westinghouse Electric & Mfg. Co., The Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., and Zenith Radio Corporation. Principal tube manufacturers were General Electric Co., Raytheon Mfg. Co., and Sylvania Electric Products, Ine.
If they tried this today, it would be 20 years and a trillion $ with a bugg y end product in short supply.
On the flip side: "In Germany, more than 30 (perhaps as many as 50)[17] different proximity f uze designs were developed, or researched, for anti-aircraft use, but none saw service.[9] These included acoustic fuzes triggered by engine sound, on e based on electrostatic fields developed by Rheinmetall Borsig, and radio fuzes. In mid-November 1939, a German neon lamp tube and a design of a prot otype proximity fuze based on capacitive effects was received by British In telligence as part of the Oslo Report."
A lesson on the deleterious effects of politicization of science.