He joined the Portuguese Air Force in 1942 and trained in the United Kingdom and France.

[1] When on 25 April 1974 the Carnation Revolution broke out in Portugal, deposing Marcelo Caetano and overthrowing the Estado Novo ("New State"), Galvão de Melo joined the National Salvation Junta that took power.

Often seen as a far-right politician, in 1980 he stood as a presidential candidate, but on that occasion he obtained less than 1% of the total popular vote.

[6] Fourteen years later, he attracted controversy because of his quoted newspaper remarks which defended the 1975 Indonesian annexation of East Timor.

[7] Galvão de Melo was married twice, firstly to Maria João Vieira das Neves (on 24 June 1926)[1] and secondly to Sybille Schön (16 December 1925[1] - 8 January 2007) (divorced Mrs. Stürken), without issue.