Jolee was a 5,500-gross register ton (GRT) Design 1022 cargo ship that was built in 1920 by American International Shipbuilding, Hog Island, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States for the United States Shipping Board (USSB).

She was sold in 1933 to Lykes Brothers - Ripley Steamship Co Inc. She was purchased by the Ministry of War Transport (MoWT) in 1941 and renamed Empire Flamingo.

[4] The ship was built by American International Shipbuilding, Hog Island, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States in 1920 for the USSB.

[4] The Code Letters LWHQ and United States Official Number 140185 were allocated.

[3] In 1933, Jolee was sold to the Lykes Brothers - Ripley Steamship Co Inc.[1] Her port of registry was changed to Houston, Texas.

She departed two days later for Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, arriving on 17 January.

She was allocated the United Kingdom Official Number 168084 and the Code Letters BCFG.

Empire Flamingo was operated under the management of G Nisbet & Co. Ltd.[8] Jolee sailed from the Clyde on 8 April to join Convoy OB 307,[9] which had sailed from Liverpool the previous day and dispersed at sea on 13 April.

[9] She then joined Convoy OB 339, which departed from Liverpool on 26 June and arrived at Halifax on 12 July.

[15] She then joined Convoy FS 591, which sailed on 10 September and arrived at Southend, Essex two days later.

[16] Empire Flamingo departed from Southend on 26 September with Convoy EC 78, which arrived at the Clyde on 1 October.

Although noted in official records as having returned,[17] she arrived at Loch Ewe on 30 September.

[9] Following a long period under repair and carrying a cargo of pig iron, Empire Flamingo sailed from Halifax on 24 May 1942 with Convoy HX 191, which arrived at Liverpool on 6 June.

Empire Flamingo sailed two days later for Forcados, Nigeria, arriving on 28 August.

[36] Empire Flamingo departed from Liverpool on 16 April 1944 for Oban, Argyllshire, arriving the next day.

[9] On 9 June, she was sunk as part of Gooseberry 4 at Juno Beach, Arromanches, Calvados, France.

Her bow section was salvaged in 1948 and taken in tow, intended for scrapping at Newport, Monmouthshire but it sank on 26 October 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) south of the Longships Lighthouse, in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Cornwall.

Empire Flamingo was being towed by the tug Superman and foundered when a temporary bulkhead failed.